Marking device for shorthand machine

Claim 2

A marking device for a shorthand machine comprising: (a) a housing, said housing having (i) a substantially flat, rectangular base plate having a longitudinal channel extending the length of the base plate, (ii) a substantially flat, rectangular top plate complementary to the base plate and secured to the base plate, and (iii) means maintaining said top plate and said base plate in spaced-apart relationship; (b) an elongate key having a forward and rearward end; (c) means for mounting said key for substantially longitudinal movement within said channel between a retracted and an advanced position; (d) biasing means continuously urging the key toward its retracted position; (e) means for removably mounting said housing on the shorthand machine; (f) a marking instrument mounted adjacent the forward end of the key for movement with the key between the retracted and advanced positions; and (g) a finger-engagement means at the rearward end of said key to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of said key between the retracted and advanced positions.

Claim 3

A marking device for selectively marking the margin of a paper tape in a shorthand machine of the type having a platen for advancing the paper tape and a keyboard for operating the machine so that information may be recorded by the machine on the paper tape being advanced by the platen, said marking device comprising: (a) a housing, said housing having (i) a substantially flat, rectangular base plate having a longitudinal channel extending the length of the base plate, (ii) a substantially flat, rectangular top plate complementary to the base plate and secured to the base plate, and (iii) means maintaining said top plate and said base plate in spaced-apart relationship; (b) an elongate key having a forward and rearward end; (c) means for mounting said key for longitudinal movement within said channel between a retracted and an advanced position; (d) biasing means continuously urging the key toward its retracted position; (e) means for removably mounting said housing on the shorthand machine intermediate the platen and the keyboard with the rearward end of said key disposed adjacent the keyboard when said key is in its retracted position; (f) a marking instrument mounted adjacent the forward end of the key for movement with the key whereby the marking instrument will be moved into contact with the paper tape when the key is moved to its advanced position for applying a mark on the paper tape; and (g) a finger-engagement means at the rearward end of said key to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of said key between the retracted and advanced positions.

Claim 4

A marking device for selectively marking the margin of a paper tape in a shorthand machine of the type having a platen for advancing the paper tape and a keyboard for operating the machine so that information may be recorded by the machine on the paper tape being advanced by the platen, said marking device comprising: (a) a housing, said housing having (i) a substantially flat, rectangular base plate having a longitudinal channel extending the length of the base plate, (ii) a substantially flat, rectangular top plate complementary to the base plate and secured to the base plate, and (iii) means maintaining said top plate and said base plate in spaced-apart relationship; (b) an elongate key having a forward and rearward end; (c) means for mounting said key for longitudinal movement within said channel between a retracted and an advanced position; (d) biasing means continuously urging the key toward its retracted position; (e) means for removably mounting said housing on the shorthand machine intermediate the platen and the keyboard with the rearward end of said key disposed adjacent the keyboard when said key is in its retracted position; (f) a marking instrument mounted adjacent the forward end of the key for movement with the key whereby the marking instrument will be moved into contact with the paper tape when the key is moved to its advanced position for applying a mark on the paper tape; and (g) a finger-engagement means at the rearward end of said key to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of said key between the retracted and advanced positions.

Claim 5

A device as in claim 2, wherein said finger-engagement means comprises a finger pad at said rearward end, and a cavity at said forward end, said marking instrument being shaped to be received by said forward cavity in the key.

Claim 6

A device as in claim 3, wherein the marking instrument is a disposable cartridge comprising a "U"-shaped holder, the base of the "U" comprising a live hinge for facilitating insertion of the disposable cartridge in and removal of the disposable cartridge from the forward cavity of each elongate key, and a marking element mounted in said holder and positioned for striking the paper tape carried by the platen upon advancement of the key.

Claim 7

A device as in claim 4, wherein the marking element comprises an ink-impregnated roller rotatably mounted in the "U"-shaped holder.

Claim 8

A device as in claim 2, wherein; (a) said elongate key is slidable relative to said housing; and (b) said elongate key has said forward end disposed adjacent the platen when the key is in its advanced position.

Claim 9

A device as in claim 6, wherein the housing includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart longitudinal channels each being shaped to receive an elongate key and for guiding the marking instruments thereof to strike the mark opposite margins of the paper tape on the platen of the machine when the elongate keys are moved from the fully retracted position to the fully advanced position.

Claim 10

A device as in claim 6, wherein said key includes an elongate cavity intermediate its opposite ends, said housing including a resilient dampener mounted in said channel and received by said cavity for engaging and limiting the movement of said key at the extent of its travel.

Claim 11

A device as in claim 6, in which said mounting means includes: (a) said longitudinal channel having therein an upstanding guidepost, the elongate key having a slot therein for receiving said guidepost, whereby the key is maintained in spaced-apart relationship with the base plate and is tracked along a path parallel to said channel; and (b) said key having at least one ridge projecting above the upper edge thereof and engaging the top plate for maintaining the key in proper relationship relative to the top and base plates when the housing is assembled.

Claim 12

A device as in claim 9, wherein said guidepost engages said slot adjacent the forward end of the key, and in which said mounting means further includes said base plate having a second upstanding guidepost in each channel, said key having a second slot shaped to receive the second guidepost adjacent the rearward end of the key, said key further including a contact being shaped to engage the channel of the base plate.

Claim 13

A device as in claim 9, including biasing means in said channel for engaging and lifting the key therein, ensuring that each ridge on the key is continuously urged into contact with the top plate.

Claim 14

A disposable cartridge for use as a marking instrument in a marking device for a shorthand machine of the type having a platen for advancing a paper tape, the marking device having an elongated operating key defining a forward cavity, the disposable cartridge comprising a "U"-shaped holder, the base of the "U" comprising a live hinge for facilitating insertion of the disposable cartridge into and removal of the disposable cartridge from the forward cavity of the elongated operating key, and a marking element mounted in said holder and positioned for striking the paper tape carried by the platen upon advancement of the key.

Claim 15

A disposable cartridge for use as a marking instrument in a marking device for a shorthand machine of the type having a platen for advancing a paper tape, the marking device having an elongated operating key defining a forward cavity, the disposable cartridge comprising a "U"-shaped holder, the base of the "U" comprising a live hinge for facilitating insertion of the disposable cartridge into and removal of the disposable cartridge from the forward cavity of the elongated operating key, and a marking element mounted in said holder and positioned for striking the paper tape carried by the platen upon advancement of the key.

Claim 16

A device as in claim 12, wherein the marking element comprises an ink-impregnated roller rotatably mounted in the "U"-shaped holder.

Claim 17

A marking device for a shorthand machine comprising: a. a housing, said housing having (i) a substantially flat, first plate having a longitudinal channel extending the length of the first plate, (ii) a substantially flat, second plate complementary to the first plate and secured to the first plate, said second plate constituting a cover for said channel, and (iii) means maintaining said first plate and said second plate in spaced-apart relationship; b. an elongate key having a forward and rearward end; c. means for mounting said key for substantially longitudinal movement within said channel between a retracted and an advanced position; d. biasing means continuously urging the key toward its retracted position; e. means for removably mounting said housing on the shorthand machine; f. a marking instrument mounted adjacent the forward end of the key for movement with the key between the retracted and advanced positions; and g. a finger-engagement means at the rearward end of said key to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of said key between the retracted and advanced positions.

Claim 18

A marking device for a shorthand machine comprising: a. a housing, said housing having (i) a substantially flat, first plate having a longitudinal channel extending the length of the first plate, (ii) a substantially flat, second plate complementary to the first plate and secured to the first plate, said second plate constituting a cover for said channel, and (iii) means maintaining said first plate and said second plate in spaced-apart relationship; b. an elongate key having a forward and rearward end; c. means for mounting said key for substantially longitudinal movement within said channel between a retracted and an advanced position; d. biasing means continuously urging the key toward its retracted position; e. means for removably mounting said housing on the shorthand machine; f. a marking instrument mounted adjacent the forward end of the key for movement with the key between the retracted and advanced positions; and g. a finger-engagement means at the rearward end of said key to facilitate manual longitudinal movement of said key between the retracted and advanced positions.