US1327177A - Score-keeping apparatus - Google Patents

Description

E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS. v

APPLICATION FILED 24:29. I919- Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

INVENTORS,

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.-

5 SHEETSTSHEEY 2.

. scomz KEEPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 29.1919;

. E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

Wrmssszs EASTEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29. 1919.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SfiEETS-SHEET 3.

Wrrm-zssss lNvENfQR 7 1i E. STEIGE RWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1919.

Patented Jan. 6,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFE|L. I

SCORE KEEPlNG APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,1919.

Mil-r2555 mww Patented Jan, 6, 1920.

s SHEETS-SHEEI 5.

UNITED STATES KTENT union.

EDWARD STEIG-ERWALD AND FRANK L. H. PFEIL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCORE-KEEPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 29,1919. Serial No. 273,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD STEIGER- \VALD and FRANK L. H. PFEIL, citizens of the United States, both residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Score-Keeping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One object of our invention is to provide means which will be adapted for keeping the score of card games and which will be so constructed that it can be easily and quickly operated to accurately compute the score; thereby avoiding all dispute by contesting players concerning the score.

Another object is to so construct our invention that it can be used to compute the score of a card game, such as Bid pinochle, where a player declares his intention to make a certain number of points and in which the rules of the game imposes a fine upon said player, if he fails to make the declared number of points by deducting the number of points of his bid from his previously earned score, or if said player has not previously made a score as large as the amount of the fine, to make the player assume a minus score equal to the difl'erence between his previously made positive or plus score and the amount of his bid.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which t Figure l is a top plan view of our invention including similarly constructed units of computing devices made in accordance with our invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and illustrating a change in the position of certain of the elements from that shown in Fig. 2, and effected by the depression of a knob or handle,

Fig. A is an enlarged inverted plan view of one of our improved computing devices showing the parts in the position which they occupy in unit A, in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inverted plan view showing the parts of one of our computing devices after it has been moved to compute a positive or plus score such, for example, as shown in Fig. 1 by unit C,

Fig. 6 is a view of similar nature to Fig. 5 showing the parts thereof moved into a position which would indicate a minus score, or using a popular term, would indicate that a player using the device was set back or in the hole,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary inverted plan view showing the relative position between certain of the parts of our invention which would indicate that the player operating the device had more than made the necessary number of points to win the game, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary inverted plan view showing the position of certain of the parts when the player has a minus score of a greater number of points than the device is capable of specifically designating,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing one position of certain of the elements of our invention,

Fig. 10 is a view of a similar nature to Fig. 9 showing said parts of Fig. 9 after they have been manually reset,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a supporting member which forms a part of our invention,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a main bushing which we preferably employ,

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a dial bushing which we preferably employ,

Fig. 14: is a perspective view of a locking spring which forms a part of our invention.

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, an elevation and a top plan view of an indicating pointer which forms a part of our invention,

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of a split spring securing washer which we preferably emp Fig. 18 is an elevation of a latch lever which forms a part of our invention, and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary top plan view of a graduated movable dial which forms :1 part of our invention.

In Fig. 1, we have illustrated our invene tion having four computing units or devices produced in connection with a single plate 20 which is preferably made of metal and in which each of said units or devices is similarly constructed. However, it will be Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

understood that one or any number of these devices can be used, and in the following description we have, therefore, described but one of the devices.

The arrangement of our improved apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, permits the inclusion of a finger 21 which is centrally mounted upon the plate 20; said finger being operative to traverse, with its pivot 22 as its center, a series of graduations which are numbered to indicate the amount bid by a player.

It will be understood that the description and the reference numerals mentioned hereinafter in connection with one of the units of our improved device relates correspondingly to all of the other units, as shown in Fig. 1.

The plate 20 has a circular recess 23 which can be pressed therein, the center of said recess having a hole 24 in which is mounted a dial bushing 25; said dial bushing being secured to the plate 20 between a shoulder 26 and a portion 27 of said bushing which is bent over the top of the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A rotatable dial 28 is piv otally mounted on the bushing 25; said dial on its upper surface being graduated, in the present instance, by forming a plurality of annularly arranged grooves 29 ,said grooves being numbered in groups of 5, in the present instance, from zero (0) to- 120. The plate 20 has an opening or window 30 which is so arranged that a certain number of the graduations on said dial can be seen therethrough; one of the edges forming said opening having a. projecting point 31 in alinement with any of the graduations on said dial when the latter is turned. Thus the relative movement between the dial and the plate 20 can be determined by the relative position of the projecting point 31 with the numbered graduations on said dial. By pressing the grooves 29 into the dial, a corresponding number of projections 32 will be produced on the bottom of said dial; these projections being arranged annularly and being spaced apart in the same manner as the graduations on the upper face of the dial.

A main bushing 33 fits within the dial bushing 25 and, in turn, forms a rotatable and slidable support for a shaft 34;. said shaft having a flange 35 at its lower end and a knob 36 connected at its upper end. Thus by means of the knob 36, the shaft 34 can be both rotated and moved lengthwise. The lower end of the knob 36 is made hollow and is provided with an offset portion 37 adapted to slidably engage a hollow offset portion 38 on the top of the main bushing 33. A coiled spring 39 is interposed between the knob 36 and bushing 33 and serves to move the knob 36 and shaft 34 upwardly.

A pointer 40 is secured to the main bushing 33, said pointer having a hole 41 which is provided with a flat portion adapted to register with a flat portion 42 on the main bushing 33 (see Fig. 12). The lower surface of the pointer 40 rests on a shoulder 43 on the main bushing 33 and the upper surface of said pointer is engaged by a split spring washer 44, said washer fitting within a groove 45 in said main bushing 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The upper surface of the plate 20 is marked with a series of graduations, in the present instance, ranging from Zero (0) to 50, and these graduations are arranged in an arc concentric to the axis of the shaft 34. The pointer 40 is of such length as to traverse the graduations on the plate 20 whenever the knob 36 is turned.

Two indicating pointers or fingers 46 and 47 are freely rotatable around the dial bushing 25 and are mounted within the recess 23 of the plate 20. These fingers have nubs 48 arranged to snap within two series of small cavities 49 and 50 which are provided in the upper surface of the plate 20 for a purpose of indicating the number of games having been played and also the number of times the player has gone in the hole, or in other words, has had a portion of his score deducted.

The bottom of the main bushing 33 has a supporting member 51 connected thereto, said member having a hole 52 extending therethrough and including a fiat or straight portion 53 for abutment with a flat or straight portion 54 on the bottom of the main bushing 33 (see Figs. 11 and 12). The extreme bottom end of the main bushing 33 is pressed over the inner surface of the supporting member 51 and said member 51 is thereby securely locked thereto and will move in conjunction with the main bushing 33 when the latter is rotated by the turning of the knob 36. Thus the pointer 40 and the supporting member 51 are operated in unison.

The supporting member 51 has an arm 52 which is channel-shape in cross section and is of varying width as clearly shown in Fig. 11. One side 54 of the arm 52 provided with a notch or slot 55. This notch or slot is produced at a part of the arm where it is reduced in width and permits the straight end portion 56 of a locking spring 57 to be inserted therethrough so that said end portion 56 occupies a position within the arm 52 adjacent the inner surface of the side 54*. lip 58 which, after the locking spring is inserted, as above described, is turned down over the top edge of the locking spring and thereby secures the locking spring to the arm with the forward portion 59 of the locking spring occupying a position adjacent the outer surface 54 of the arm 52.

A latch lever 60 is pivotally mounted at 61 within the channel arm 52 The lever 60 has a bifurcated or forked end 62 adapted The side 54. has a to span the flange 35 of the shaft 34. The latch lever has a projecting portion 63 which passes through a hole 64 in the arm 52 and is adapted to enter the spaces between any of the projections 32 on the dial 28, and thereby lock the dial 28 to the shaft 34 so that by rotating the shaft 34 through the medium of the knob 36, the dial 28 will also be rotated, and move in conjunction with the pointer 40. In order to move the projecting portion 63 of the latch lever 60 between the spaces of the projections 32 of the dial 28, it is necessary to move the knob 36 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. This causes the flange 35 to swing the latch lever 60 on its pivot 61 and to raise the projecting portion 63 between the projections 32. The locking spring 57 has an ofiset tongue 65 which provides a shoulder 66 adapted to spring under the outer end 67 of the latch lever 60 when the latter is thus moved. Figs. 3 and 10 clearly show the tongue 65 of the spring 57 in this position, so that when the knob 36 is released, the tongue 65 will serve to hold the end 67 of the latch lever in its raised position, or in other words, in a locking position with the dial 28. It is thus obvious, that in order to release the latch lever 60, it is necessary that the tongue 65 of the locking spring 57 be depressed to free the latch lever of the shoulder 66 of said locking spring 57.

In the operation of our apparatus, this releasing of the latch lever 60 from the tongue 65 of the spring 57 is automatically efiected by a depending post 68 which is rigidly secured to the plate 20 and in such position that when the arm 52 with the latch lever 60 and locking spring 57 thereon, is moved by the rotation of the knob 36, the end 69 of the tongue 65 will abut the post 68 and thus stop the movement of the spring 57; thus permitting the arm 52 to be moved to an extent suflicient to cause the forward end 67 of the latch lever 60 to move away from the shoulder 66 on the locking spring 57. The spring 39 will then serve to move the shaft 3% upwardly and withdraw the projecting portion 63 of the latch lever 60 from the space between the projections 32 of the dial 28.

An indicating finger 70 is secured to a pivot post 71 which extends through the plate 20 and also the end of the pivot post has secured thereto a forked arm 72 (see Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8). The lower surface of the dial 28 has a lug 73 thereon adapted to be positioned between the furcations 74: and 74 of the forked arm 72, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The indicating finger 7 0, due to rotatable movement of the dial and the lug 73, swung in opposite directions so as to register with either of two graduations 75 and 76 on the upper surface of the plate 20, or in some instances, the

finger 70 will move beyond the markings 7 5 and 76, for example, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8.

In the use of our invention as score keeping apparatus, the marking 75 indicates a minus score when the finger 70 registers therewith and the working 76 indicates a positive or plus score when the finger 70 registers therewith, as will be more fully explained in the following description.

The post 68 is so positioned that when the pointer 10 is in register with the zero marking on the plate 20, the locking spring 57 will be in abutment with said post 68 and free of the latch lever 60, and the latch lever will tend to automatically move through the medium of the coiled spring 39 out of locking engagement with the dial 28.

Considering that the apparatus of our invention is to be used for keeping the score of a four-handed game of Bid pinochle, said apparatus would include four units of the counting devices, as above described, each player using a specified unit. 111 view of this, we preferably provide each of the knobs 36 with a disk having a letter thereon and, as shown in Fig. 1, these disks have the letters A, B, C and D either printed or otherwise impressed thereupon. Considering that one of the players bids twenty-five (25), the finger 21 in the middle of the plate 20 is moved to the amount of the bid. The players then determine what meld they have in their hands and move their respective pointers 4-0 to the amount of their meld.

This is also done by the player who makes the bid, moving the pointer 10 of his own unit to the amount of his meld. The cards of the hand are then played and considering that the meld of the bidding player is twenty (20) and that he makes the required five (5) points in playing his hand, he then moves his pointer 4L0 into register with the twentyfive (25) marking of his unit and then depresses the knob 36 to cause the latch lever 60 to engage between the projections 32 of the dial 28. This movement also causes the locking spring to move into holding engagement with the latch lever. Said bidding player then rotates the knob 36 contraclockwise and the dial 28 will be moved until the end 69 of the locking spring engages the post 68. The dial 28 will then indicate at the projecting point 31. the amount made by the player, for example, as shown in unit C of Fig. 1, the projecting point 31 is in register with the graduation marked twenty-five (25) on the dial, the pointer 40 will then register with the zero marking on the plate 20 and the latch lever 60 will be automatically unlocked by the said engagement of the locking spring with the post 68, and the knob 36 will automatically m ove upwardly, due to the action of the coiled spring 39. This movement of the dial 28 also causes its lug 7 3 to move the forked arm 72 into a position to cause the indicating finger to register with the plus or positive graduation or marking 76 so that the score, as seen from a view of the top of the plate, indicates that the player has a plus or positive score of twenty-five (25) for his hand. The players not bidding but who make a certain number of points add the number of points to the amount of their meld by moving their respective pointers 40 and then by depressing the respective knobs and turning the knobs contra-clockwise, their individual scores will be indicated by the relative position between the point 31 and the graduations of the dial. In this manner the successive scorings of the players can be registered, and as long as a player has a positive score, the respective indicating fingers 70 will point toward the plus marking 7 6 on the plate 20. If any one player secures the necessary one hundred and twenty (120) points, it will be re istered between the point 31 and the dial and the indicating finger 7 0 will also be moved beyond the plus marking 76, for example, as shown in Fig. 7. In view of the fact that the dial will have revolved more than one complete revolution contra-clockwise, the forked arm 72 will be pushed entirely out of the path of the lug 7 3. In order to reset the indicating finger after it has been moved into the position, as shown in Fig. 7 it is necessary to manually move said finger,

.when the dial has been moved so that the point 81 registers with the zero marking thereof, in other words, into the position shown in Fig. 4.

If a player fails to make the amount of his bid, his nointer 40 is returned to the zero marking on the plate 20 merely by a rotatable movement of the knob 36 without depressing the same. After the pointer 40 has thus been returned, the knob 36 is depressed to cause the lever 60 to lock the dial and the knob is then turned clockwise to the amount that the player is to be fined or the amount which is to be deducted from his score. This will move the dial into a position which will indicate the registered score. If the amount of his fine is greater than the amount which he previously earned, the dial will be moved beyond the zero marking relatively to the point 31 and the lug 7 3 will move the indicating finger 7 0 into register with the minus marking 75, such for example, as shown in unit D of Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 6. Thus the position of the indicating finger 7 0 shows whether the score, as indicated by the dial, is plus or minus. For example, unit D of Fig. 1 showsa score of one hundred and ten (110) however, the indicating finger 70 points toward the minus marking 7 5 which shows that the player has a minus poses.

score of ten (10) points, since it is obvious that it would require, a contra-clockwise movement of the dial in order to bring the zero marking of the dial in register with the point 31.

Thus the apparatus of our invention is particularly adapted for registering and adding and can be used for numerous pur- While we have illustrated the plate 20 having four units, it will be noted that one or any number of units can be used.

While we have thus described our invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what ve claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A score keeping device comprising a supporting structure; an annularly graduated dial rotatably mounted on said supporting structure; means for registering with the graduations of the dial; plus and minus markings on said supporting structure; a

finger movably mounted on said supporting structure; and means attached jointly on said finger and dial, and operative when said dial is rotated a predetermined distance in opposite directions to move said finger alternately to said plus and minus markings and, when said dial is moved in said. directions beyond said predetermined distance, to move said finger alternately beyond said plus and minus markings; substantially as described.

2. A score keeping device comprising a supporting structure; an annularly graduated dial rotatably mounted on said supporting structure; means for registering with the graduations of the dial; plus and minus markings on said supporting structure; a finger movably mounted on said supporting structure; a bifurcated arm connected to said finger; and a lug on said dial, said lug being operative to engage between the furcations of said arm when the dial is rotated a predetermined distance in opposite directions to move said finger alternately to said plus and minus markings, said lug being operative when said dial is moved in said directions beyond said predetermined dis tance to move said arm completely out of the path of the lug whereby the finger will be respectively moved beyond said plus and minus markings; substantially as described.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dial having graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed to said bushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaft to the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said pointer; and a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved into locking engagement with the dial; substantially as described.

-l-. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate having an opening therein; a dial movably mounted under said plate and having graduations visible through said opening; means adjacent said opening for registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed to said bushing; a pointer fixed to sand bushing; means for couphng said shaft to the bushlng whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said v pointer; and a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved into locking engagement with the dial; substantially as described.

5. Apparatus of the character described, including means having graduations there on; means for traversing said graduations; a dial having grooves pressed in the upper face and forming graduations on said face and projections spaced apart on the lower face, said first means having a portion for registering with the graduations on said dial; and locking means adapted to enter the spaces between said projections and lock said dial to said second means whereby the locking means can be located under the dial so as not to obscure or interfere with the reading of the graduations; substantially as described. A,

6. Apparatus of the character described, including means providing graduations; a pointer for traversing said graduations; a supporting member having a channel arm, one side of said arm having a slot therein; a locking spring having a portion extending into said channel through said slot; a graduated dial; a locking lever pivotally mounted on said arm; said spring having a portion adapted to spring into engagement with said locking lever to hold the latter in locking engagement with the dial; means operatively connecting said traversing means and said supporting means; and means adapted to be engaged by said spring to release said locking lever and permit it to be moved out of locking engagement with the dial; sub

stantially as described.

7. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate having graduations thereon; a rotatable bushing; a shaft slidable through said bushing; a knob secured to said shaft; a spring for normally raising said shaft; a pointer secured to said bushing and adapted to traverse said graduations; a graduated dial; and a locking lever operatively connected to said shaft, whereby when the shaft is lowered, the lever will engage said dial to cause it to rotate with said bushing; substantially as described.

8. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate having graduations thereon; a rotatable bushing; a shaft slidable through said bushing; a knob secured to said shaft a spring for normally raising said shaft a pointer rotatably secured to said bushing and adapted to traverse said graduations; a graduated dial; a locking lever operatively connected to said shaft, whereby when the shaft is lowered, the lever will engage said dial to cause it to rotate with said bushing; means automatically movable to hold said locking lever in looking engagement with said dial, after said shaft has been moved; and means for disengaging said latter spring from the locking lever to permit said first spring to move the shaft upwardly and thereby move the locking lever out of locking engagement with the dial; substantially as described.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dial having graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed tosaid bushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaft to the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved into looking engagement with the dial; and a spring for moving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of locking engagement with said dial; substantially as described.

10. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dial having graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaft extends; a sup porting member fixed to said bushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaft to the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved into lockmg engagement with the dial; a spring for moving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of locking engagement with said dial; a locking spring for holding said latch lever in locking position with said dial against the action of said first spring; and means for automatically disengaging said locking spring from the latch lever; substantially as described.

11. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dial having graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed to said bushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaft to the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved into locking engagement with the dial; a spring for moving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of locking engagement with said dial;- a locking spring for holding said latch lever in locking position with said dial against the action of said first spring; and a post with which said locking spring engages to cause movement of said locking spring to free said latch lever and permit it to be moved out of locking engagement with said dial; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD STElGERlVrrLD. FRANK L. H. PFEIL.

lVitnesses CnAs. E. Po'rTs, MARY A. INGLAR.

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