Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed for assembling an electric motor in which a unitary housing includes a base section having integral upright end walls. Each end wall is provided with a circular opening which openings are in coaxial alignment. A curable epoxy compound coats the surfaces of the base section and/or end walls for bonding a stator assembly within the unitary housing. The stator assembly is provided with a central bore which is axially aligned with the circular openings by having an alignment pin extending therethrough while the epoxy is in a pliable state. The epoxy is then cured with the alignment pin in position. After curing the pin is removed. The stator is now rigidly attached to the housing with its bore and the openings precisely aligned along the common axis of the motor. A rotor subassembly is inserted lengthwise through the openings and the stator bore with its bearings located in a corresponding opening on the housing for rotatable free support of the rotor in the bore.

Abstract: A releasable ribbon locking device is used to keep a ribbon taut in a typewriter ribbon cartridge. The device includes a locking member carrying a blade or brake urged by a spring into abutting relationship with a rotatable ribbon supply support to prevent unwinding of fresh ribbon from the supply. A lock release member is movably coupled to the locking member and supports a ribbon tensioning element in engagement with a portion of the ribbon extending from the ribbon supply. In operation, a ribbon feed mechanism pulls on the ribbon which moves the lock release member through the tensioning element and correspondingly moves the locking member to rotatably free the ribbon supply support from abutment with the brake and allows the ribbon to unwind from the supply.

Abstract: A pinch valve for selectably controlling flow of fluid through one of two resiliently deformable tubes used e.g., for transporting water in a steam iron. The valve comprises a body member defining a compression surface supporting each one of the tubes. A selector lever is pivotally mounted on the body for selectably moving an integral cam abutment between individual tube shut-off positions. A rocker element supported on the tubes is captively held in the body member intermediate the selector lever and the compression surface for rocking movement between tube pinching positions. The cam abutment continually presses on the rocker causing the rocker to bear upon each one of the tubes on the compression surface. As the selector lever is pivoted, the cam abutment engageably slides along the rocker to rock the rocker between its tube pinching positions. The tubes are thus isolated from sliding contact with the cam abutment by the interposed rocker thereby preventing frictional wear of the tubes.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a coffeemaker with a variable brew strength apparatus which comprises a base which contains a water reservoir and a heater and which supports a coffee carafe. The base supports a variable brew strength apparatus directly over the coffee carafe. The variable brew strength apparatus includes a water restrictor member which is rotably mounted on the cover of a coffee basket member. The water restrictor member and the coffee basket member, in combination, form a valve which either admits heated water to an inner basket which is mounted in the coffee basket and which contains ground coffee, or causes a portion of the heated water to bypass the inner basket and enter the coffee basket to mix with and dilute coffee brewed in the inner basket. The coffee basket supports a special coffee scoop which has a tabular indicia relating the number of cups of coffee desired, the brew strength desired, and the number of scoops of coffee required.

Abstract: An overtemperature protector for an appliance having an electrical heating element, the overtemperature protector being formed basically of just a spring blade positionable to bring a contact on the surface of the blade into circuit-energizing engagement with a fixed contact, and an insulator-capped fusible pin retaining the blade in that position. Excessive heat in the appliance softens the pin, allowing the spring blade force on the insulator cap to shear the pin and interrupt the circuit. The overtemperature protector is preferably incorporated in a thermostatic control, the fixed contact being supported on a lateral extension projecting from one circuit element of the thermostat assembly and the spring blade being supported within the assembly with an insulating spacer separating it from the thermostat element having the lateral extension. The spring blade is preferably sickle-shaped for compactness despite having a long length for low force to minimize effects of creep of the fusible pin.

Abstract: An acoustic transmission member is disclosed for use in an encoding system utilizing acoustic energy wherein diverging sound waves are induced within the member in response to selected actuation of a striker positioned along the member. The time taken by each sound wave to travel through the member is measured in the system to provide an elapsed time interval unique to all strikers for generating a code indicative of the selected input. The acoustic transmission member is a rod formed into a series of coils or helixes with at least one coil length provided and when assembled disposed between adjacent striker positions. The coil configuration defines an expanded path, as compared to the straight linear distance between adjacent strikers, for the sound waves to travel.

Abstract: A circuit for inhibiting the operation of an engine after the engine has functioned for a specific period of time. The circuit basically includes a timing network, a concealed switch, a timing disable network, an audible alarm, and relay. When the engine is started by an unauthorized operator, who is unaware of the concealed switch, the engine will operate in the normal manner upon closure of the ignition switch. Closure of the ignition switch applies battery power to the timing circuit which starts to "time out". Subsequently, when the timing circuit "times out", battery current flows through the relay coil, its contacts close to thereby connect a capacitor across the ignition points of the engine. The engine is thereby disabled after the vehicle has travelled a relatively short distance.

Abstract: Pump chambers usable in beverage makers, for example, have a liquid-contacting heated surface provided with abrupt discontinuities--e.g. sharp edges or corners--to promote flaking-off of mineral deposits. These edges may be fins of rectangular or triangular cross-section.

Abstract: A key mechanism arrangement for use in a keyboard of a business machine wherein a snap motion occurs in response to depression of a keylever. An elongated resilient member is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a member. One end of the resilient member is coupled to the keylever for bias support thereof, while the free end cooperates with a restraining means, to first prevent its movement during initial keylever depression to store energy and then quickly released, causing the free end to snap against a member of a utilization apparatus. The resilient member restores the key mechanism arrangement to a rest position upon release of the keylever. Four embodiments are disclosed all having the same mode of operation. In three of the embodiments the restraining means includes a means of latching the free end of the resilient member and then selectively releasing that end actuated by further depression of the keylever.

Abstract: A platen variable apparatus is disclosed for rotatably adjusting a platen in step increments and in fine amounts in a typewriter. The apparatus includes an individual hub member rotatably mounted on a platen extension and having teeth thereon intermeshed with teeth of a flexspline fixed on the platen extension. A coarse adjusting member is fixedly coupled on the platen extension for positively rotating the platen in step increments controlled by a detent. A rotatable fine adjusting wheel has an internal wave generator surface that cooperates with the flexspline for moving the flexspline relative to the hub member which adjusts the platen in fine amounts.

Abstract: A direct connection provides coupled movement from a keylever to an interposer of a simple key action in a typewriter. The connection includes an abutment integrally constructed on the keylever inserted within a recess on the interposer to effect movement of the interposer when the keylever is caused to move. Depression of the keylever pushes the interposer downward against a pawl that will engage a rotating power roll to cause initiation of a print movement of a typebar. The keylever while being restored by an underlying spring, will then pull the interposer upward to rest. The keylever and interposer are in planar alignment that is maintained by having the connection contained within a slot of a support member in the typewriter.

Abstract: A low silhouette keyboard having a plurality of keylevers arranged in rows and in parallel relationship to one another are suspended, guided and biased to restore by opposing flexible support members. The keylevers are "T" shaped which includes a cross arm constrained between the flexible support members, and a leg portion which projects through slots in a single guide comb. The keylevers are suspended in cantilever fashion being biased upward limited by an upstop. Reciprocation of any keylever in any row is a path substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flexible support members. Keytouch of all keylevers is substantially simultaneous and uniformly adjustable by providing means for varying the upward biasing force applied thereto.