Improvements in Key Cushions for Type-writing and Manually Operated Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1594-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Key Cushions for Type-writing and Manually
Operated Machines.
We, WILLIAM BENJAMIN SAVELL, and ROBERT SYLVESTER GRAHAM, of
679 and 681 Broad Street, Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey,
Gentlemen, both in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Our invention relates to the keys or elastic cushions or pads adapted to be fitted
to the keys or spacing bars of type-writing machines, cash registers, and other
mechanisms in which keys are employed which are to be rapidly and often
struck by the fingers, the object being to relieve the fingers of the operator from
the soreness caused by striking the hard surfaces of ordinary keys.
Our invention consists of the construction of parts forming the cushion or pad
hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Figure 1, represents a group of keys showing the application of our invention.
Figure 2, represents a key the stem of which carries a plate or head with an
inwardly turned flange and a cellular rubber pad or cushion seated therein.
Figure 3, illustrates the pad or cushion provided with a rim adapted to be fitted -
over the head of an ordinary key.
Figure 4, represents the pad or cushion fitted over the head of the ordinary key
and provided with a lower flange adapted to be sprung under the head.
Figure 5, illustrates the pad or cushion fitted to the head of the ordinary key
and retained in place by a surrounding rim.
Figure 6, illustrates our invention applied to a space bar.
Figure 7, illustrates a top plan view of the pad or cushion.
Figure 8, is a modification.
In carrying out our invention we make the top of the key as a pad or cushion of
cellular rubber of a readily yielding nature and upon and within the surface of the
same is a character of a contrasting color. Many methods may be adopted to
secure the cellular rubber in place upon the key. In Figure 2, the stem A of the
key has a plate or head B with an inwardly projecting flange C at its upper end
adapted to fit a groove or depression a formed in the rubber pad or cushion D, the
said rubber pad or cushion being readily compressible to enable it to be fitted in
place with the flange a engaging the groove of the pad. Instead of thus securing
the pad or cushion I may adopt the form shown in Figure 3, in which the said pad
or cushion is carried by a metal flange or ring B' adapted to be fitted over the
ordinary key head of a type-writing machine; or I may construct said pad or
cushion with an inwardly turned or flanged lower portion 6' which is formed by a
rim extending downwardly to form a cylindrical chamber adapted to receive the
ordinary key head as shown in Figure 4.
In Figure 5, the pad or cushion A' has a downwardly extending rim forming a
hollow chamber adapted to receive the head of the ordinary key, and is secured
thereto by means of a band C¹; while in Figure 6, we show the application
of our invention to a space bar, in which latter instance the pad or cushion
is formed with end pockets B³ adapted to receive the ends of the space bar as
shown.
In Figure 8, the cellular cap or cushion is elevated above the head of the key
proper to form a space or chamber to increase the cushion effect.
In all of the cases above noted the pad or cushion may be removed by an upward
pressure or force applied to it.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is: :-
1st. A key for type-writing and manually operated machines, the head of which
is provided with a pad or cushion formed of a body of cellular rubber removably
sprung into engagement with a retaining flange.
2nd. A key for type-writing and manually operated machines the head or upper
portion of which is provided with a cushion or pad or soft, readily-yielding cellular
rubber removably attached to the main portion of the key.
3rd. A readily-yielding cellular cushioned key adapted to be removably
attached to the key bar, lever or rod of a type-writer or manually operated
machine.
4th. A cushioned cap for the keys of type-writing machines formed of soft
readily yielding rubber having a letter or character upon its surface, said cap
provided with means engaging the key for maintaining it thereon.
Dated this 29th day of November 1893.
ROBERT SYLVESTER GRAHAM.
WILLIAM BENJAMIN SAVELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1594-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Key Cushions for Type-writing and Manually
Operated Machines.
We, WILLIAM BENJAMIN SAVell, and RobeRT SYLVESTER GRAHAM, of
679 and 681 Broad Street, Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey,
Gentlemen, both in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to the keys or elastic cushions or pads adapted to be fitted
to the keys or spacing bars of type-writing machines, cash registers, and other
mechanisms in which keys are employed which are to be rapidly and often
struck by the fingers, the object being to relieve the fingers of the operator from
the soreness caused by striking the hard surfaces of ordinary keys.
Our invention consists of the construction of parts forming the cushion. or pad
hereinafter fully described and claimed.
Figure 1, represents a group of keys showing the application of our invention.
Figure 2, represents a key the stem of which carries a plate or head with an
inwardly turned flange and a cellular rubber pad or cushion seated therein.
Figure 3, illustrates the pad or cushion provided with a rim adapted to be fitted
over the head of an ordinary key.
Figure 4, represents the pad or cushion fitted over the head of the ordinary key
and provided with a lower flange adapted to be sprung under the head.
Figure 5, illustrates the pad or cushion fitted to the head of the ordinary key
and retained in place by a surrounding rim.
Figure 6, illustrates our invention applied to a space bar.
Figure 7, illustrates a top plan view of the pad or cushion.
Figure 8, is a modification.
In carrying out our invention we make the top of the key as a pad or cushion of
cellular rubber of a readily yielding nature and upon and within the surface of the
same is a character of a contrasting color. Many methods may be adopted to
secure the cellular rubber in place upon the key. In Figure 2, the stem A of the
key has a plate or head B with an inwardly projecting flange C at its upper end
adapted to fit a groove or depression a formed in the rubber pad or cushion D, the
said rubber pad or cushion being readily compressible to enable it to be fitted in
place with the flange a engaging the groove of the pad. Instead of thus securing
the pad or cushion I may adopt the form shown in Figure 3, in which the said pad
or cushion is carried by a metal flange or ring B₁ adapted to be fitted over the
ordinary key head of a type-writing machine; or I may construct said pad or
cushion with an inwardly turned or Hanged lower portion 6 which is formed by a
rim extending downwardly to form a cylindrical chamber adapted to receive the
ordinary key head as shown in Figure 4.
In Figure 5, the pad or cushion A* has a downwardly extending rim forming a
hollow chamber adapted to receive the head of the ordinary key, and is secured
thereto by means of a band C'; while in Figure 6, we show the application
of our invention to a space bar, in which latter instance the pad or cushion
is formed with end pockets B³ adapted to receive the ends of the space bar as
shown.
In Figure 8, the cellular cap or cushion is elevated above the head of the key
proper to form a space or chamber to increase the cushion effect.
In all of the cases above noted the pad or cushion may be removed by an upward
pressure or force applied to it.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
-claim is :-
1st. A key for type-writing and manually operated machines, the head of which
is provided with a pad or cushion formed of a body of cellular rubber removably
sprung into engagement with a retaining flange.
2nd. A key for type-writing and manually operated machines the head or upper
portion of which is provided with a cushion or pad or soft, readily-yielding cellular
rubber removably attached to the main portion of the key.
3rd. A readily-yielding cellular cushioned key adapted to be removably
attached to the key bar, lever or rod of a type-writer or manually operated
machine.
4th. A cushioned cap for the keys of type-writing machines formed of soft
readily yielding rubber having a letter or character upon its surface, said cap
provided with means engaging the key for maintaining it thereon.
Dated this 29th day of November 1893.
ROBERT SYLVESTER GRAHAM.
WILLIAM BENJAMIN SAVELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.