US3711175A

US3711175A - Portable typewriter with case

Info

Publication number: US3711175A
Application number: US00010446A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Sottsass
Original assignee: Olivetti SpA
Current assignee: Olivetti SpA
Priority date: 1969-05-03
Filing date: 1970-02-11
Publication date: 1973-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-16
Also published as: SE351807B; FR2044614A5; ES179758U; NL6915841A; BE747489A; DE1953505A1; CH491749A; DE1953505C3; ES179758Y; GB1265908A; DE1953505B2

Abstract

A portable typewriter and case assembly in which the typewriter is insertable into the case through an open end thereof. A panel for closing the open end of the case is affixed to the back of the typewriter. Flexible connecting means are secured to the case and are engageable with the panel for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case.

Description

United States Patent 1 Sottsass, Jr.

[451 Jan. 16, 1973v 22 Filed:

154] PORTABLE TYPEWRITER WITH CASE [75] Inventor: Ettore Sottsass, Jr., Milan, Italy [73] Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C. S.p.A., lvrea,

ltaly Feb. 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 10,446

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data- May 3, 1969 Italy ..51694 A/69 52 US. Cl ..312/208, 312/244 51 Int. Cl; ..A47b 21/00, A47b 89/00 [58] Field of Search ..312/208, 244, 320; 353/119; 73/431; 206/1, 16; 250/524 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,493,636 1/1950 Mills ..353/119 X 3,339,781 9/1967- Schurman et al ..206/1 X 3,348,892 10/1967 Grassi ..312/208 Goldbeck et al. ..206/16 X 2,855,257 10/1958 Barker et al. ..312/244 X 2,958,304 11/1960 .....3l2/244 X 3,467,891 9/1969 12/320 X 2,510,681 6/1950 Campbell ..312/29 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 268,526 3/1932 Great Britain ..312/208 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Att0rneyBirch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [57] ABSTRACT A portable typewriter and case assembly in which the typewriter is insertable into the case through an open end thereof. A panel for closing the open end of the case is affixed to the back of the typewriter. Flexible connecting means are secured to the case and are engageable with the panel'for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 16 1973 3.71 J 175 INVENTOR. I ET TORE SOT TSASS PORTABLE TYPEWRITER WITH CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION relates to a portable machine. In this latter assembly, a carrying handle is fixed to one of the lateral sides of the base, as a result of which the handle is in the way while the machine is being used. Moreover, since the handle is fixed to one of the lateral sides of the base, the mechanisms of the typewriter are subject to lateral stresses during carriage. Finally, this assembly has the disadvantage that the base is liable to become damaged by being struck while the machine is being carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a portable typewriter and case assembly in which the case protects the typewriter as much as possible while it is being carried and does not subject the mechanisms of the typewriter to lateral stresses.

Basically described, the assembly of the invention comprises a case having one end thereof open; a typewriter insertable into the case through said open end;.a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open end; a carrying handle connected to the panel; and connecting means associated with the case for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG..1 is a rear perspective view from the left of the typewriter and case of the assembly of the invention, with part of the case being removed to show the interior thereof; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the typewriter inserted into the case and ready for carrying.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 indicates generally a portable typewriter machine, and reference numeral 6 indicates generally a case of rigid plastic material within which machine 5 may be inserted. Machine 5 includes a keyboard indicated generally by reference numeral 25 at the front thereof and a paper platen 26 at the back thereof. Case 6 is of substantially rectangular parallelepipedal form and is tapered slightly inwardly toward the bottom thereof. The two sides of case 6 having the smallest area are the top and bottom thereof, and the two sides having the largest area are side walls 11. The case is open at the top thereof and is adapted to receive the machine,

keyboard or front first, through such top. The rim of case 6 is formed by a projecting ridge 7 against which a closure panel 8 fixed to the back of machine 5 is adapted to rest. Fixed to the panel 8 is a projection 9 in which there is hinged a handle 10 for carrying the machine. 1

Projection 9 is disposed slightly below the middle of panel 8 in such a manner that handle 10 is hingedly connected to the panel in a plane which is substantially parallel to side walls 1 l, i.e. substantially parallel to the bottom of machine 5, and passes through the center of gravity of the machine, so that during carriage the case hangs vertically downwardly from the handle. Panel 8 is provided at the perimeter thereof with a rim 18 projecting to the rear of machine 5, i.e. outwardly from the outer surface of the panel, and substantially at the same height as projection 9. Handle 10 is ofa size such that it can rest against panel 8 within rim 18 when it is pivoted toward the top of the machine, so that in spite of the relatively small height of the machine the handle can be made large enough to be gripped comfortably. v

The case includes connecting means for removably securing the closure panel and machine thereto. The connecting means are constituted essentially by two flexible tongues 12 secured to two opposite side walls 13 of the case in registration with two depressions 14 formed in the case. The depressions are framed by U- shaped ridges 15 integrally connected to ridge 7. Tongues 12 are composed of an elastic material, such as rubber, and each includes a T-shaped portion 16. Portions 16 are engageable with two notches 17 formed in rim 18; the bar of each T-shaped portion being wider than the associated notch 17 and the thickness of each portion being no greater than the height of rim'l8. Each tongue 12 terminates in a freely extending portion 19 forming a finger-tab adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue.

Two pairs of rubber pegs 20 are fixed to the bottom of case 6, only onesuch p'air being visible in FIG. 1. Each pair of pegs 20 is integral with a. base 21 and is adapted to engage therebetween a front bar 22 of machine 5 for holding the machine in the proper position within the case. The bar 22 is fixed to the frameof the machine by means of two longitudinal bars 23.

Finally, at the bottom of the case there are fixed two placed upright, as in FIG. 2, and is held with one hand by means of one of tongues 12. The handle 10 is then gripped with the other hand and the machine is picked up, thereby automatically moving the machine to a vertical position. The machine is now inserted into the case until the rim l8 mates with the ridge 7, as in FIG. 2. By then gripping the two tab portions 19, the tongues 12 are pulled and bent over until T-shaped portions 16 are engaged with notches 17. In order to engage por tions 16 with notches l7, tongues 12 must be placed under tension,thereby insuring that panel 8 will remain firmly secured to case 6.

To remove machine 5 from case 6, portions 16 are the case. The machine may then be lifted from the case.

Since case 6 is made of a rigid plastic material, it can be used as a support for the machine during use, while the paper can be placed inside the case.

It is understood that various modifications, improvements, or additions may be made in the assembly hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of appended claims.

l claim:

I. A portable typewriter and case assembly comprismg:

a substantially parallepi'ped shaped case, the sides of said case having the smallest area being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open;

a typewriter, including a keyboard at the front thereof and a paper platen at the rear thereof, said typewriter being insertable front first into the case through said open top;

a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top;

a carrying handle connected to the panel and being disposed when in use in a plane extending generally parallel to the bottom of the typewriter and through the center of gravity thereof; and

connecting means associated with the case for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case, said connecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectively secured to two opposite side walls of said base adjacent said open top.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the panel includes a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof; and'wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the panel and when not in use is arranged to rest against the outer surface of the panel within said rim when pivoted toward the top of the typewriter. v I 1 3. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein said handle is pivotally connected to the panel; and wherein said two opposite side walls are disposed perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said handle when the typewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein the panel includes a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof, said rim having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectivelyv positioned adjacentsaid two opposite side walls when the typewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein said connecting element s comprise two flexible tongues respectively engageable with said notches, each of said tongues including a T-shapedportion engageable with the associated .notch' and a freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elastic material and under tension when engaged with said notches.

4. As assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the typewriter includes a bar mounted on the front thereof;

and wherein the case includes at least two oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding the typewriter into the proper position therein and at least n 3 substantially parallepiped shaped case, the sides of said case having the smallest area being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open;

typewriter including a keyboard at the front thereof, a paper platen at the rear thereof and a bar mounted on the front thereof, said typewriter being insertable front first into the case through said open top, said case including at least two oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding the typewriter into the proper position therein and at least one pair of pegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageable with said bar for locking the typewriter in the proper position therein; g

a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top, said panel including a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof and having twooppositely disposed notches therein respectively positioned adjacent two opposite side walls of said case when the typewriter is inserted into the case;

connecting means associated with the case for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is insertedinto the case, said connecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectively secured to said two opposite side walls adjacent said open top; said connecting elements comprising two flexible tongues respectively engageable with said'notche's, each of said tongues including a T-shaped portion engageable with the associated notch and a'freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue, said tongues beingcomposed of an elastic material and under tension when engaged with said notches. i

' A i a: I

Claims

1. A portable typewriter and case assembly comprising: a substantially parallepiped shaped case, the sides of said case having the smallest area being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open; a typewriter, including a keyboard at the front thereof and a paper platen at the rear thereof, said typewriter being insertable front first into the case through said open top; a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top; a carrying handle connected to the panel and being disposed when in use in a plane extending generally parallel to the bottom of the typewriter and through the center of gravity thereof; and connecting means associated with the case for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case, said connecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectively secured to two opposite side walls of said case adjacent said open top.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the panel includes a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof; and wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the panel and when not in use is arranged to rest against the outer surface of the panel within said rim when pivoted toward the top of the typewriter.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein said handle is pivotally connected to the panel; and wherein said two opposite side walls are disposed perpendicularly to the pivot axis of said handle when the typewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein the panel includes a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof, said rim having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectively positioned adjacent said two opposite side walls when the typewriter is inserted into the case; and wherein said connecting elements comprise two flexible tongues respectively engageable with said notches, each of said tongues including a T-shaped portion engageable with the associated notch and a freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elastic material and under tension when engaged with said notches.

4. As assembly as recited in claim 1; wherein the typewriter includes a bar mounted on the front thereof; and wherein the case includes at least two oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding the typewriter into the proper position therein and at least one pair of pegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageable with said bar for locking the typewriter in the proper position therein.

5. A portable typewriter and case assembly comprising: a substantially parallepiped shaped case, the sides of said case having the smallest area being the top and bottom thereof, said top being open; a typewriter including a keyboard at the front thereof, a paper platen at the rear thereof and a bar mounted on the front thereof, said typewriter being insertable front first into the case through said open top, said case including at least two oppositely disposed ribs mounted interiorly thereof for guiding the typewriter into the proper position therein and at least one pair of pegs secured to the bottom thereof and engageable with said bar for locking the typewriter in the proper position therein; a panel affixed to the back of the typewriter for closing said open top, said panel including a perimetrical rim projecting outwardly from the outer surface thereof and having two oppositely disposed notches therein respectively positioned adjacent two opposite side walls of said case when the typewriter is inserted into the case; a carrying handle connected to the panel and being disposed when in use in a plane extending generally parallel to the bottom of the typewriter and through the center of gravity thereof; and connecting means associated with the case for removably securing the panel to the case when the typewriter is inserted into the case, said connecting means including a pair of connecting elements respectively secured to said two opposite side Walls adjacent said open top, said connecting elements comprising two flexible tongues respectively engageable with said notches, each of said tongues including a T-shaped portion engageable with the associated notch and a freely extending portion adapted to be grasped by a user for manipulating the tongue, said tongues being composed of an elastic material and under tension when engaged with said notches.