US3122851A - Scoring device - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1964 M. o. sEPE SCORING DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1961 INVENTOR. MANLIO O* S PE ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,122,851 SCORING DEVICE Manlio O. Sepe, 401 Roseville Ave., Newark, NJ. Filed Oct. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 143,188 1 Claim. (Cl. 40-70) My invention relates generally to scoring devices and specifically to a tennis scoring device which is adapted to tally opposing contestants respective scores in each game and the number of games won in each set.

Many tennis scoring devices are known today but all have one or more serious defects. Of greatest importance is the fact that the scoring device is most frequently worn on the wrist of the dominant arm in a manner of a watch. This leaves the opposite hand free to manipulate the scoring device. Obviously, the scoring device is thus subjected to extremely sharp shocks during the course of the game. Frequently, such shocks will cause the mechanism to skip or jump thereby destroying the usefulness of the device. Means have been adapted to secure moving parts in the scoring device against accidental movement due to shock; however, those that have been successful frequently unduly complicate the structure and increase cost of manufacture.

Another problem encountered is the diiculty in moving the tallying or scoring mechanism quickly and precisely during the course of the game.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention to provide a scoring device which will tally the score of each contestant in each game and the total number of games won by each contestant in each set.

Another object of my invention is to provide a scoring device in which rotatable members are firmly secured against accidental rotation due to shock, vibration or sudden movement of the body during the course of the game.

A further object of my invention is to provide a scoring device in which rotatable members upon which points and games are tallied can be quickly, easily and precisely manipulated by the mere touch of a finger without looking at the device.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a scoring device in which a plurality of rotatable members are firmly secured against accidental rotation due to shock, vibration or other movement of the body by a single, integral, centrally mounted resilient retainer engaged to each of said rotatable members.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a scoring device in which a plurality of rotatable members are each provided with a series of equally spaced, radial projections, only one of which extends beyond the case of the device at any time.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by my invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of my scoring device provided with a wrist band to secure it to the wrist.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the scoring device shown in FIGURE 1 with the top of the case removed.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective of a resilient retainer.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises a case 11 having a flat bottom 12. Formed integrally on the bottom 12 and extending generally perpendicular thereto are four round mounting posts 13, 14, 15 and 16 located generally at the corners of a square. Formed on the opposing sides of the bottom 12 are a pair of triangular separators 17 and 18 each of which is pro- ICC vided with a tapped hole 19 to accommodate a screw. Formed integrally with the bottom 12 at the center of the square defined by the mounting posts 13, 14, 15 and 16, 1s a square peg 20.

A pair of rotatable indicators 21 and 22 are rotatably mounted on posts 13 and 14 respectively. Each indicator 21, 22 is provided with ve generally rectangular, radial projections or arms 23 equally spaced about a circle. Another pair of indicators 24 and 25 are rotatably mounted on the opposing posts 15 and 16 respectively. Indicators 24 and 25 are each provided with 11 radial projections or arms 26 equally spaced about a circle.

A resilient retainer 27 is mounted on the square peg 2) formed on the bottom 12 of the case 11. The retainer 27 comprises a generally at, circular central portion 28 having formed integrally thereon 4 resilient legs 29, 30, 31 and 32 extending radially from the central portion 28 and disposed outwardly and downwardly at an oblique angle. The central portion 28 is provided with a central square hole 31 to facilitate mounting on the square peg 20. The hole 31, peg 20 and the radial legs 29, 30, 31 and 32 are so mutually oriented that each of said legs will engage respectively indicators 21, 22, 24 and 25. A detent 33 is formed on the bottom of each of the radial legs 29, 30, 31 and 32 of the resilient member 27. Each indicator 21, 22, 24 and 25 is provided with a plurality of holes 34 etc. equal in number to the number of radial projections or arms extending from the indicator and equally spaced about a circle. The detents 33 on the radial legs 29, 3i), 31 and 32 of the retainer 27 are adapted to resiliently seat in the depressions 34, 34 etc. on the respective indicators 21, 22, 24 and 25.

A top 35 is mounted on the spacers 17 and 18 and secured thereto by screws 36, 36 passing therethrough and into the tapped holes 19, 19 in the spacers 17 and 18. The top 35 is provided With a plurality of recesses 37 on its underneath surface to accommodate the 4 motmting posts 13, 14, 15 and 16 and the central peg 20. As the top 35 is positioned on the spacers 17 and 18, the retainer 27 is forced downwardly over the square pcg 2t) bending its radial legs 29, 30, 31 and 32 engaged to the respective indicators 21, 22, 24 and 25 upwardly against their normal resilience.

Both the top 35 and the bottom 12 of the casing 11 are provided with arcuate concavities 3S in registration with each other in a vertical plane and adapted to expose only one projection or arm 23 of each of the indicators 21 and 22. Each projection 23 on the respective rotatable indicators 21 and 22 are marked or numbered for scoring purposes. The case 11 on the side opposite the concavities 38, 38 is generally straight. The indicators 24 and 25 are of such a diameter that a portion of one projection or arm 26 at a time will extend beyond the side of the casing 11. The top 35 is recesse'd along a line generally perpendicular to the side of the casing and passing through the center of the mounting posts 15 and 16 to provide windows 39, 39. Each projection 26, 26 etc. on the indicators 24 and 25 are numbered, the numbers appearing in the windows 39, 39.

In operation, my scoring device may be provided with a pair of straps 40, 40 for securing it to the wrist of the racket arm. After each point is gained, the wearer merely rotates either indicator 21 or indicator 22 to record the score of each contestant. The indicator 21 or 22 may be moved merely by touch since the finger can engage only one of the projections or tabs 23 at a time. The retainer 27 iirmly and resiliently engages each of the rotatable members or indicators to prevent accidental rotation due to shock. Thus, a positive pressure must be applied to the tab 23 or 26 in order to cause rotation. Over rotation is prevented since the retainer will again engage another hole 34 as the neXt projection or arm presents itself at the side of the case 11. Further rotation cannot occur without positive pressure being applied to the projection or arm 23 or 26.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being Within the scope of the appended claim, although they are not specically catalogued herein.

What is claimed:

A scoring device comprising,

(a) a generally flat, hollow case having openings about its periphery,

(b) a plurality of independently rotatable, generally fiat circular indicators mounted within the case,

(c) a plurality of radial projections about the periphery of each indicator, only one projection on each indicator extending beyond the periphery of the hollow case at any time,

(d) a retainer mounted against rotation within the case above the plane of the indicators,

(e) a plurality of resilient, outwardly and downwardly extending radial legs on the retainer, each leg being engaged to the upper surface of one indicator securing the same against accidental rotation,

(f) a plurality of recesses on the upper surface of each indicator spaced equally about a circle concentric with the center of rotation of the indicator and equal in number to the number of projections on the indicator, and

(g) a detent on the undersurface of each leg of the retainer adapted to resiliently seat Within the recesses on the respective indicators.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,774 Briggs Feb. 12, 1889 657,834 Buttman Sept. 1l, 1900 1,268,667 Barney June 4, 1918 2,702,954 Cline Mar. 1, 1955 2,787,069 Ferguson Apr. 2, 1957

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