Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for semi-automatically feeding and inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members into pre-drilled holes on an architectural sign face corresponding to the pattern of Braille letters designed to be formed in the sign. A device is disclosed for holding a reservoir of spherically or non-spherically shaped members, delivering the members from the cylindrical storage tube to a delivery end whereby the member is forcibly inserted into the pre-drilled hole on the sign face by pressure from the user in an arrangement desired for accurately duplicating Braille letters.

Description:
DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a handheld apparatus in the general shape of a pen for semi-automatically feeding and inserting members, both spherical and non-spherical, such as ball bearings and elongated members with a rounded tip, respectively, into pre-drilled holes to form Braille letters on architectural and other signs. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Signs in buildings that direct people from place to place or identify locations sometimes have a message both in print, to be read by sighted people, and in Braille to be read by blind people. There has been a general trend toward putting Braille on signs, but this trend has been greatly accelerated because of federal legislation requiring that Braille be placed on architectural signs, both new and old. 
   There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,245,744 and 5,403,189 a method and apparatus for placing spherically shaped members into holes on sign faces to form Braille letters. Those patents, however, required a cumbersome manual pick-up and insertion of each member into a hole, which was time consuming, labor intensive and inefficient. The present invention semi-automates that process, thereby allowing for increased productivity and savings of both time and labor cost. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for an easy-to-use handheld apparatus for applying Braille to a sign face that overcomes the aforementioned problems. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a handheld apparatus in the general shape of a pen for semi-automatically feeding and inserting members, both spherical and non-spherical, into pre-drilled holes thereby creating Braille letters or cells on an architectural or other sign face. 
   A device is disclosed for storing and semi-automatically feeding and inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into pre-drilled holes formed in a sign face, whereby Braille letters are formed in the sign face. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide an improved, easy-to-hold apparatus for placing Braille letters on an architectural sign face. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for placing Braille letters on an architectural sign face which is inexpensive and which is simple to use. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for economically, easily, quickly and dependably inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into holes in a sign face for making Braille signs. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, semi-automatic and dependable apparatus for inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members into the holes formed in the sign face by the aforementioned apparatus. 
   Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cut-away side view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a handheld apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for semi-automatically feeding and inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into pre-drilled holes in a sign face in a pattern corresponding to Braille letters to produce a sign face with Braille lettering in addition to the normal printed lettering. 
   The apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  includes a body  1  having a lower portion  2  and an upper portion  3 , said upper portion  3  being comprised of a hollow cylindrical storage tube  4 , said cylindrical storage tube  4  having an upper end  5  and a lower end  6 , and a cap  7  situated on the upper end  5  of the cylindrical storage tube  4 . The hollow cylindrical storage tube  4  holds a plurality of spherically or non-spherically shaped members such as ball bearing members or the like. The spherically and non-spherically shaped members would preferably be made out of acrylic, however, other materials would work equally as well. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the lower portion  2  of the body  1  is comprised of a grip  8  and a tip assembly  9 , the grip  8  being fixedly attached and superimposed around the tip assembly  9 . The tip assembly  9  is comprised of the outer tube  10  and the inner member delivery device  11 . The outer tube  10  is comprised of a top end  12 , a bottom end  13 , an outer wall  14  having a first diameter  15 , an inner bore  16  having a second diameter  17 , and an upper closed face  18  at the top end  12 . The top end  12  has an attaching area  19  with a third diameter  20  that is smaller than the first diameter  15 . The hollow cylindrical storage tube  4  fits over the third diameter  20  of the outer wall  14  of the outer tube  10  of the tip assembly  9  and is affixed thereto with glue or some other such adhesive. The upper closed face  18 , having a center hole  21 , a wire retainer hole  22  and a delivery tube hole  23 , is thus situated within the hollow cylindrical storage tube  4 . The upper closed face  18  may also be beveled from the center hole  21  to the delivery tube hole  23  to facilitate movement of the spherically and non-spherically shaped members downward from the cylindrical storage tube  4  into the delivery tube hole  23 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the inner member delivery device  11  is comprised of an outer surface  24 , a top portion  25 , and a bottom delivery portion  26 . The bottom delivery portion  26  is comprised of a cut-out notch  27  and a tapered portion  28  situated at the end of the bottom delivery portion  26  and extending upwards approximately one half the length of the cutout notch  27 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the cutout notch  27  is comprised of a top face  29  and a front face  30 . 
   Referring once again to  FIG. 2 , a first center bore  31  is disclosed through the center of the inner member delivery device  11  and extends from the top portion  25  to a point approximately one-sixteenth of an inch from the cutout notch  27 , the first center bore  31  having a circumference  32 , a top aperture  33  and a first center bore bottom portion  34 . The preferred embodiment of the first center bore  31  would disclose a diameter of 0.1560 inches, although that diameter may vary depending upon the desired size of the apparatus. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a second center bore  35  extends from the first center bore bottom portion  34  of the first center bore  31  to the bottom delivery portion  26 . The preferred embodiment of the second center bore  35  would disclose a diameter of 0.067 inches, although that diameter may vary depending upon the desired size of the apparatus. It is important that the first center bore  31  does not extend through the top face  29  of the cutout notch  27  of the bottom delivery portion  26 . The preferred embodiment of the cutout notch  27  of the bottom delivery portion  26  would disclose that the cutout notch  27  extends inward 0.154 inches, thereby forming the top face  29 , and extends upward 0.267 inches from the bottom delivery portion  26  , thereby forming the front face  30 . Again, depending upon the desired size of the apparatus, these measurements may vary. 
   Said second center bore  35 , as it extends along the front face  30  of the cutout notch  27 , creates a groove  36  extending along the front face  30 . A toe clip  37  is disclosed and fixedly attached to the front face  30  by screws or the like, as shown more clearly in FIG.  2 . 
   The inner member delivery device  11  has a cylindrical groove  38  extending along its outer surface  24 , said cylindrical groove  38  having a delivery tube  39  situated therein and fixedly attached therein. The delivery tube  39  comprises an entry end  40  and an exit end  41 , said delivery tube  39  extending a sufficient length above said inner member delivery device  11  such that the entry end  40  of the delivery tube  39  is seated below said delivery tube hole  23  of the upper closed face  18  when the apparatus is at rest. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the tapered portion  28  of the bottom delivery portion  26  is comprised of a tapered edge  42  and a lower tapered portion  43 , said lower tapered portion  43  having an angled bore  44  extending at an angle upwards and parallel with the tapered edge  42 . The exit end  41  of the delivery tube  39  has a cutout embrasure  45  that is aligned with the angled bore  44 , thereby allowing a pathway for the spherical and non-spherical members to travel from the cylindrical storage tube  4  to the bottom delivery portion  26 . 
   Referring still to  FIG. 2  a main pin  46  having a pin upper portion  47  of a sufficient diameter to fit within the inner bore  16  of the outer tube  10  and slide within the first center bore  31  of the inner member delivery device  11 , and a pin lower portion  48  of a sufficient diameter to slide within the second center bore  35  is disclosed and is slidable within the bottom delivery portion  26 . The main pin  46  is fixedly attached to the outer tube  10 , thereby moving up and down in concert with the movement of the inner member delivery device  11 . 
   Referring still to  FIG. 2  outer tube  10  is slidably connected to and disposed around the inner member delivery device  11 , thus allowing the inner member delivery device  11  to freely move within a predetermined range up and down within the outer tube  10 . The predetermined range can be controlled by various means, as that shown in the preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment discloses a slot or plurality of slots in the outer tube  10 , within which a screw or pin or the like that is fixedly attached to the inner member delivery device  10  can slide. 
   The bottom end  13  of the outer tube  10  comprises a sleeve  49  fixedly attached and superimposed around the outer wall  14 . The sleeve  49  has an inner diameter  50 , essentially equal to the first diameter  15  of the outer wall  14  of the outer tube  10 . 
   A spring  51  is disposed around the inner member delivery device  11  and is prevented from extending lower than a point approximately one-quarter of an inch from the top face  29  of the cutout notch  27  by a stopping means, such as that disclosed in the drawing. The preferred stopping means embodiment discloses a c-clamp  52  positioned within an annular groove about the inner member delivery device  11  and a c-clamp  53  positioned within an annular groove about the outer tube  10 , thereby creating stops for the upward and downward motion of the inner member delivery device  11 . The spring  51  thereby acts as a compression spring to cause the main pin  46  to move downwards within the inner member delivery device  11 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
   A wire  54  is disclosed, which is seated within the wire retainer hole  22  and extends upward into the cylindrical storage tube  4 , thereby contacting the spherically and non-spherically shaped members which creates additional movement to the members, thereby facilitating movement downward into the delivery hole  23 . 
   In operation, in order to practice the invention: 
   As the operator holds the apparatus, the spherically or non-spherically shaped members held in the hollow cylindrical storage tube  4  sequentially drop into the delivery hole  23  of the upper closed face  18  and travel down the delivery tube  39 , the downward motion aided by gravity and the wire  54 , and each spherically or non-spherically shaped member then continues to travel through the delivery tube  39  at which time the spherically or non-spherically shaped member enters the angled bore  44  and continues down the angled bore  44 , at which time the spherically or non-spherically shaped member is stopped by contacting the toe clip  37 . The continued downward movement of the apparatus by the operator causes the bottom delivery portion  26  to contact the sign face, thereby compressing the spring  51  which pushes the inner member delivery device  11  upwards, causing the main pin  46  to slide down, whereby the spherically or non-spherically shaped member, being held by the toe clip  37 , is then pressed into the hole on the sign face by the main pin  46  as the apparatus continues its downward movement. The continued downward movement causes the main pin  46  to push the member free of the toe clip  37  and into the pre-drilled hole. The main pin  46  then acts as a valve to prevent the next or subsequent member from exiting the angled bore  44 . 
   The preferred embodiment of the invention would include the following measurements, said first diameter of 0.50 inches, said second diameter of 0.375 inches, and said third diameter of 0.375 inches, said center hole having a diameter of 0.125 inches and an inclined edge, said delivery tube hole having a diameter of 0.095 inches, said tapered portion of the bottom delivery portion extending upwards 0.15 inches, said delivery tube having a length of 3.375 inches and diameter of 0.070 inches, said angled bore of the lower tapered portion having a diameter of 0.070 inches, and said main pin of 3.4806 inches in length, although, as shown herein, other sizes and measurements may be used, depending upon the size of the apparatus that the user desires. 
   Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention does indeed accomplish the aforementioned objects. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.