Patent US4976559A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4976559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Typewriter
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1988-05-02
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2008-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard section and a print mechanism section of a typewriter are housed in separate housings which may be mechanically joined together through connect means comprising first and second engaging means provided in the respective housings. In the assembled condition, the keyboard housing may be held in position relative to the print mechanism housing against moving in any direction and therefore operated even when there is no available space for the keyboard housing itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuro Inagaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J5/00; B41J5/08; B41J5/10; B41J5/105; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A typewriter comprising: a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in a first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in a second housing; first connect means for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction; second connect means including at least one hole portion provided on a rear edge of said first housing and a rod member provided within said second housing and arranged to be extendable toward said first housing for engagement in said hole portion whereby to further connect said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit; said first connect means comprises first engaging means provided on either one of said first and second housings, and second engaging means provided on the other housing and engageable with said first engaging means; and said first engaging means comprises a downward projecting wall secured at its top to a rear edge of said first housing, and said second engaging means comprises an upward projecting wall secured at its bottom to a front edge of said second housing and engageable in front of said downward projecting wall so as to prevent horizontal movement of said first housing away from said second housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A typewriter comprising: a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in a first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in a second housing; first connect means for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction; second connect means including at least one hole portion provided on a rear edge of said first housing and a rod member provided within said second housing and arranged to be extendable toward said first housing for engagement in said hole portion whereby to further connect said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit; said first connect means comprises first engaging means provided on either one of said first and second housings, and second engaging means provided on the other housing and engageable with said first engaging means; and said first engaging means comprises a downward projecting wall secured at its top to a rear edge of said first housing, and said second engaging means comprises an upward projecting wall secured at its bottom to a front edge of said second housing and engageable in front of said downward projecting wall so as to prevent horizontal movement of said first housing away from said second housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The typewriter according to claim 1 wherein said downward and upward projecting walls include inward extending portions engageable with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The typewriter according to claim 1, wherein said first engaging means comprises a plurality of projections secured at one end thereof to a rear edge of said first housing and provided at the other free end thereof with through holes, and said second engaging means comprises a plurality of openings provided in a front edge of said second housing for receiving said projections and one or more of hook members provided within said second housing and adapted to be engaged with said through holes of said projections passing through said openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The typewriter according to claim 1 wherein said first engaging means comprises a plurality of projections extending from a front edge of said second housing, and said second engaging means comprises a plurality of recesses provided in a rear edge of said first housing for receiving said projections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The typewriter according to claim 1 wherein said first engaging means comprises a plurality of projections extending from a front edge of said second housing and having holes near leading ends thereof, and said second engaging means comprises openings provided in a rear edge of said first housing for passing therethrough said projections and operating members provided inside said first housing and adapted to come into engagement with said holes of said projections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
176 words
A typewriter comprising: a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in a first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in a second housing; mechanical connect means, including at least one pair of rotating arm members rotatable about a laterally extending axis between a first position wherein said keyboard unit is stored in a bottom of said first housing and a second position wherein said keyboard projects beyond a rear edge of said first housing; a recess portion provided in a front edge of said first housing for receiving said rotating arm members in said second position, said recess portion having a downward projection engageable with a leading end of said rotating arm members, for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
A typewriter comprising: a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in a first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in a second housing; mechanical connect means, including at least one pair of rotating arm members rotatable about a laterally extending axis between a first position wherein said keyboard unit is stored in a bottom of said first housing and a second position wherein said keyboard projects beyond a rear edge of said first housing; a recess portion provided in a front edge of said first housing for receiving said rotating arm members in said second position, said recess portion having a downward projection engageable with a leading end of said rotating arm members, for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
A typewriter comprising: A first housing and a second housing a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in said first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in said second housing; first connect means for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction; second connect means for further connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit in a width direction; and adjusting means connected to said first housing and to said second housing through said first connect means for adjusting the inclination angle of said first housing relative to said second housing about an axis substantially parallel to said width direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
A typewriter comprising: A first housing and a second housing a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in said first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in said second housing; first connect means for mechanically connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction; second connect means for further connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is held in position against movement relative to said print mechanism unit in a width direction; and adjusting means connected to said first housing and to said second housing through said first connect means for adjusting the inclination angle of said first housing relative to said second housing about an axis substantially parallel to said width direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
The typewriter in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first housing includes: a top cover; an engageable block member provided within said first housing and including an engagement portion adapted to be connected to said second housing and further including a plurality of stepped grooves which are vertically arranged; a lever member extending from an under surface of said top cover, said lever member being adapted to be brought into engagement with any one of said stepped grooves whereby said inclination angle of said first housing is changed in accordance with the particular one of said grooves with which said lever member is brought into engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The typewriter in accordance with claim 8 wherein said engageable block member inlcudes three stepped grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
228 words
A typewriter comprising: a first housing and a second housing a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in said first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in said second housing; mechanical connect means having at least one pair of engagement portions respectively provided in said first and second housings, one of said pair of engagement portions being shiftable between (1) an engagement position for connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction and (2) a disengagement position; said one of said pair of engagement portions comprising a rotating arm member rotatable about a laterally extending axis between said disengagement position at which it is stored in a bottom of said first housing and said engagement position at which it projects beyond a rear edge of said first housing, and wherein the other of said pair of engagement portions comprises a recess portion provided in a front edge of said first housing for receiving said arm member in the engagement position, said recess portion having a downward projection engageable with a leading end of said arm member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
228 words
A typewriter comprising: a first housing and a second housing a keyboard unit having a plurality of operational keys and housed in said first housing; a print mechanism unit operated in response to operation of said operational keys to print characters on a print medium and housed in said second housing; mechanical connect means having at least one pair of engagement portions respectively provided in said first and second housings, one of said pair of engagement portions being shiftable between (1) an engagement position for connecting said keyboard unit and said print mechanism unit so that said keyboard unit is supported by said print mechanism unit while being held against movement relative to said print mechanism unit at least in a downward pressing direction and (2) a disengagement position; said one of said pair of engagement portions comprising a rotating arm member rotatable about a laterally extending axis between said disengagement position at which it is stored in a bottom of said first housing and said engagement position at which it projects beyond a rear edge of said first housing, and wherein the other of said pair of engagement portions comprises a recess portion provided in a front edge of said first housing for receiving said arm member in the engagement position, said recess portion having a downward projection engageable with a leading end of said arm member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |