GB2329710A

GB2329710A - Comparator for use in the game of bowls

Info

Publication number: GB2329710A
Application number: GB9720289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Jardine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-25
Filing date: 1997-09-25
Publication date: 1999-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-25
Also published as: GB9720289D0; GB2329710B

Abstract

The comparator 10 comprises a housing 12, a pair of arms (18, 20) each arm being pivotally mounted with respect to the housing, the arms (18, 20) being moveable in unison between a stowed position and an operational position. Gear wheels 22,24,28,30 interconnect the arms for stowage and operational use.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMPARATORS The present invention relates to a comparator device for use in determining the closest one of a number of objects to a target object.

In particular, though not exclusively, the comparator is intended for use in the game of bowls where it is frequently necessary to compare the distances between the Jack, i.e. the target object, and those bowls adjacent the Jack to determine that bowl which is nearest to the Jack. In some instances it is a relatively simple matter to compare these distances and can be done visually without the need for close visual comparison or direct measurement.

If the players cannot agree which bowl is nearest to the Jack the decision of an umpire is required and there is no appeal against the decision of the umpire.

If there is any doubt, special tape measures and callipers are available for measurement purposes. The tape measures usually consist of a housing from which the measure is pulled and the housing has a projection on it. In use the umpire has to contact the Jack with the projection on the tape measure housing and then extend the tape measure to each of the relevant bowls adjacent to the Jack. Quite often, as the tape is pulled from the housing, the tape has to overcome a resistance to the pulling motion, and the tape leaves the housing with a jerk. An allowance has to be made by the umpire when using a tape for this occurrence.

It will be appreciated that such an operation requires considerable care in order not to disturb either the Jack or any of the bowls. Also, because the tape measure itself has an overall width of some 3 inches, a tape measure cannot be used where the distances involved are less than approximately 4 inches. For distances of less than 4 the use of engineering type callipers is the only alternative.

It will be appreciated that it is absolutely essential that neither the Jack nor any of the bowls are disturbed since it will then be impossible to decide which of the bowls was nearest to the Jack, probably resulting in that particular game being declared void, to the considerable annoyance of the players, and the possible loss of a championship.

Therefore there exists a need for a means of being able to determine which one of any number of bowls but clearly at least two is nearest to a Jack in a game of bowls, without there being any risk, or at least only a minimal risk of disturbing either the Jack or one of the bowls during the use of such means.

Such a device should also be able to be used where the bowls are relatively close to the Jack and there is only a limited space for use of a comparing instrument.

The present invention seeks to provide a comparator which meets these objectives.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a comparator for comparing the distances between a target object and at least two objects of variable position, the comparator comprising a housing, a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally mounted for rotation with respect to the housing, the arms being moveable in unison between a stowed position and an operational position.

Each arm can have mounted on it a gear wheel, the gear wheels of the arms engaging one another and having their axes of rotation coincident with the axes of rotation of the arms.

The comparator can include at least one further gear wheel mounted in the housing and engaging one of the arm gear wheels directly, or through an intermediate gear wheel, in order to operate the arms.

The at least one further gear wheel can be positioned so that it can be operated by the user's thumb when the housing is held in the user's hand.

The arms of the comparator can be shaped so that when the arms are fully rotated in the operational mode a face of one arm is parallel to and contacts the corresponding face of the other arm.

The comparator can include a clamp to prevent rotation of the arms at any position between the fully stowed position and the fully operational position.

The clamp can comprise a pressure plate which is movable to clamp the arms.

The comparator can include an indicator to show the degree of angular movement of the arms.

The comparator can include a storage compartment.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one form of comparator according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the comparator of Figure 1 with the cover removed; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the comparator shown in Figure 1 with the cover in place; Figure 4 shows the pressure plate of the comparator shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the clamping arrangement of the comparator shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a comparator (10) comprises a housing (12) which is generally box like in form and has a cover (14) held in place by screws (16). Two arms (18, 20) are mounted for rotation in the housing (12) on axes A and B respectively.

Each arm (18, 20) is provided with a respective gear wheel (22, 24) which are enmeshed with one another and one of the gear wheels (22, 24) is in engagement with an intermediate drive gear wheel (28).

The intermediate gear wheel (28) is driven by either one of a pair of adjustment wheels (30), part of the circumferences of which projects from the housing so that when the housing is held in the user's right or left hand it can be operated by one of the digits of the right or left hand of the user.

Each arm (18, 20) is so shaped that it has a planar face (18A, 20A), these faces being parallel to one another in the stowed position as shown in Figure 2, so that when the arms are moved to the operational position as will be described below, the faces (18A, 20A) are in contact with one another throughout their length.

The included angle a of each arm is selected to be as small as possible, for example, of the order of about 5 , the purpose of which is described below.

The comparator (10) includes a clamping device in the form of a pressure plate (26) and a wheel (32). The pressure plate (26) is located above gear wheels (22, 24) and below the arms (18,20) as shown in Figure 1, and the plate (26) also includes guards (26A) for the wheels (30). When the wheel (32) is rotated the pressure plate (26) is forced into contact with the wheel (28) so as to prevent the rotation of the intermediate drive wheel (28) and thereby to prevent further movement of the arms (18, 20).

In operation and referring to Figure 2 in particular, the arms (18, 20) are shown in the stowed position in full lines. It will be appreciated that the arms are fully contained within the housing (12) enabling the comparator to be carried easily in the pocket. In this mode the clamping device is in operation and the intermediate gear wheel (28) cannot be turned without releasing the wheel (32).

In order to use the comparator, the wheel (32) is rotated, thereby releasing the pressure plate (26) and allowing the intermediate gear wheel (28) to rotate. By use of the adjustment wheel (30) the arms (18, 20) can be moved from the stowed position to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 2 or any other position between the stowed position and when the faces (18A, 20A) contact one another.

Figure 2 also shows diagrammatically a Jack (34) and two bowls (36, 38) adjacent the Jack.

The user of the comparator e.g. an umpire, moves the arms (18, 20) to what he considers to be a rough approximation of the distance between say the Jack (34) and the bowl (36). Without locking the arms in position, the arms (18, 20) of the comparator are passed between the Jack (34) and the bowl (36). If the distance between the ends of the arms (18, 20) is greater than the distance between the Jack (34) and the bowl (36) because of the gearing ratio the arms will be deflected inwardly towards one another by contact with the Jack (34) and the bowl (36), without disturbing the position of either the Jack (34) or the bowl (36).

It will be understood that the distance between the ends of the arms (18, 20) represents the exact distance between the Jack (34) and the bowl (36).

If required, the arms (18, 20) can then be locked in position.

The umpire will then move to determine whether the position between the Jack (34) and the bowl (38) is greater or less than the distance between the Jack (34) and the bowl (36). With the arms (18, 20) unclamped the comparator will then be offered up to the space between the Jack (34) and the bowl (38). If the arms (18, 20) are deflected then it will be clear that the distance between the Jack (34) and the bowl (38) is less than the distance between the Jack (34) and the bowl (36).

If on the other hand there is no deflection of the arms, the reverse will be true.

Alternatively, the comparator can be used in the following manner. The arms (18, 20) can be rotated so that they contact each other with the faces (18A, 20A) in contact. The arms (18, 20) can then be offered up to the space between the Jack and one of the bowls. The arms can then be rotated by use of the adjustment wheel (30) until one arm touches the Jack and the other arm touches the bowl thereby setting the distance between the Jack and the respective bowl. This measurement can then be used to check the comparison between a second bowl.

Without touching the adjustment wheel (30) the comparator is offered up to the space between a second bowl and the Jack and if the space between the second bowl and the Jack is less than the distance between the Jack and first bowl then the arms will automatically be rotated by contact between the Jack and the second bowl and it will be obvious that the second bowl is closer to the Jack than the first bowl.

If on the other hand when the comparator arms are offered up to the space between the Jack and the second bowl and there is no movement of the arms it will be clear that the distance between the Jack and first bowl is less than the distance between the Jack and the second bowl.

It will be appreciated that because of the very small included angle a of the arms the comparator can be used to compare relatively small distances between a Jack and a number of bowls.

It has been found in practice that a comparator according to the present invention can be used where the space between a Jack and a bowl varies between an eighth of a inch to up to 7 inches.

This range of distances will usually be satisfactory of making decisions as to which of a number of bowls is closest to the Jack.

For distances of approximately 7 inches and upwards, the use of a conventional tape measure is likely to be a more convenient choice.

Because of the relatively low gearing of the arms and the length of the arms, only a very light pressure at the end of the arms exerted by contact with the Jack and a bowl is required to cause deflection of the arms to a position indicating the distance between the Jack and the bowl.

Once a comparison has taken place the arms can be retracted by use of the adjustment wheel (30) so that the arms are fully stowed within the housing. The arms can then be locked by operation of the wheel (32).

The comparator can, if required, include means to indicate the angular position of the arms.

Also, the housing can be provided with a storage compartment (40) in which a conventional tape measure used by umpires can be stored. Thus a comparator according to the present invention is able to provide an umpire with the means to take measurements and/or make comparisons for the purposes for deciding which of a number of bowls is closest to a Jack in the game of bowls.

Claims

1. A comparator for comparing the distances between a target object and at least two objects of variable position, the comparator comprising a housing, a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally mounted for rotation with respect to the housing, the arms being moveable in unison between a stowed position and an operational position 2. A comparator as claimed in claim 1 in which a gear wheel is mounted to each arm, the gear wheels engaging one another, and having their axes of rotation coincident with the axes of rotation of the arms 3. A comparator as claimed in claim 2 including at least one further gear wheel mounted in the housing and engaging one of the arm gear wheels to operate the arms directly or indirectly through an intermediate drive wheel 4. A comparator as claimed in claim 3 in which the at least one further gear wheel is positioned so that it can be operated by the thumb of a user when the housing is held in one hand of the user 5. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arms are shaped so that when the arms are fully rotated in the operational mode a face of one arm is parallel to and contacts the corresponding face of the other arm 6. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a clamp to prevent rotation of the arms 7. A comparator as claimed in claim 6 in which the clamping device includes a pressure plate movable to a position to clamp the pair of arms 8. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an indicator to show the degree of angular movement of the arms 9. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing includes a storage compartment 10. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fixed object comprises a Jack and the objects of variable position comprise the bowls used in the game of bowls.

11. A comparator constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A comparator for comparing the distances between a target object and at least two objects of variable position, the comparator comprising a housing, a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally mounted for rotation with respect to the housing, the arms being moveable in unison between a stowed position and an operational position, the arms being moveable upon contact with the target object and one of the at least two objects without disturbing any of the objects.

2. A comparator as claimed in claim 1 in which a gear wheel is mounted to each arm, the gear wheels engaging one another, and having their axes of rotation coincident with the axes of rotation of the arms.

3. A comparator as claimed in claim 2 including at least one further gear wheel mounted in the housing and engaging one of the arm gear wheels to operate the arms directly or indirectly through an intermediate drive wheel.

4. A comparator as claimed in claim 3 in which the at least one further gear wheel is positioned so that it can be operated by the thumb of a user when the housing is held in one hand of the user.

5. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arms are shaped so that when the arms are fully rotated in the operational mode a face of one arm is parallel to and contacts the corresponding face of the other arm.

6. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a clamp to prevent rotation of the arms.

7. A comparator as claimed in claim 6 in which the clamping device includes a pressure plate movable to a position to clamp the pair of arms.

8. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an indicator to show the degree of angular movement of the arms.

9. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the housing includes a storage compartment.

10. A comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fixed object comprises a Jack and the objects of variable position comprise the bowls used in the game of bowls.

12. A method of operating the comparator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the arms are rotated to a position such that the distance between the ends of the arms approximates to a distance greater than the distance between the target object and one of the said two objects, passing the ends of the arms between the target object and one of the said two objects so that contact between the arms and the target object in the said one of the two objects deflects the arms to a position indicating the exact distance between the target object and one of the said two objects.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 in which the comparator with the arms in a position indicating the exact distance between the target object and one of the said two objects is offered up between the target object and another one of the said at least two objects.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 when dependent on claim 6 including the step of locking the arms in position when the arms indicate the exact distance between the target object and any one of the said at least two objects.

15. A method of using a comparator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 substantially as herein described.