Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A tactile reading device of the type comprising a reading surface (3) provided with openings (4) for a number of sensing rods (5) adapted to move reciprocally axially between a protruding position and a retracted position with respect to said surface, each one of which rods can be moved between said positions by means of an end part of an elongated actuating element (9) of which the other end part is fixed, said actuating element (9) being adapted to move by curvature deformation perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis between two end positions by applying an actuating force thereto, wherein the improvement comprises the fact that the curvature direction of said actuating element (9) is substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction of the sensing rod (5) and that displacement transmitting means (14) are provided between the actuating element (9) and the sensing rod (5), said displacement transmitting means (14) presenting a substantially neutral point close to that of the end positions of the actuating element (9) in which the sensing rod (5) occupies its protruding position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A tactile reading device of the type comprising a reading surface (3) provided with openings (4) for a number of sensing rods (5) adapted to move reciprocally axially between a protruding position and a retracted position with respect to said surface, each one of which rods can be moved between said positions by means of an end part of an elongated actuating element (9) of which the other end part is fixed, said actuating element (9) being adapted to move by curvature deformation perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis between two end positions by applying an actuating force thereto, wherein the improvement comprises the fact that the curvature direction of said actuating element (9) is substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction of the sensing rod (5) and that displacement transmitting means (14) are provided between the actuating element (9) and the sensing rod (5), said displacement transmitting means (14) presenting a substantially neutral point close to that of the end positions of the actuating element (9) in which the sensing rod (5) occupies its protruding position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that an abutment (7) is provided to prevent the curvature deformation of the actuating element (9) beyond said end position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal axis of the actuating element (9) is substantially parallel to said reading surface (3).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal axis of the actuating element (9) is substantially perpendicular to said reading surface (3).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said displacement transmitting means (14) comprise an elastic element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said displacement transmitting means (14) are in the form of a connecting element having its ends (13,15) connected to the actuating element (9) and to the sensing rod (5), respectively, for pivoting about axes which are substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the sensing rod (5) and of the actuating element (9).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
Device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that said actuating element is in the form of a wire spring (14) with parallel rectilinear end portions (13,15) which are received in pivoting bearings (12,16) of the sensing rod (5) and of the actuating element (9), respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said displacement transmitting means (14) are in the form of a cam surface (23) formed by the lower face (11) of the sensing rod (5) cooperating directly with the free end of the actuating element (9), the shape of the cam surface being so selected as to obtain the required elasticity to counteract the reading pressure applied on the sensing rods (5).