GB2374712A

GB2374712A - Counting and scoring device

Info

Publication number: GB2374712A
Application number: GB0109508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen Te Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-18
Filing date: 2001-04-18
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-18
Also published as: GB0109508D0; GB2374712B

Abstract

A counting device comprises a housing 22, at least one spring-biassing member (40, Fig 7) and at least one rotatably received dial 30. Member (40) includes a side portion having opening 43 forming spring arm 44 joined to the member (40) by ends 41. Dial 30 has an outer periphery that engages with arm 44 for the rotationally positioning dial 30 relative to housing 22. Housing 22 may have a base plate to which the spring-biassing member may be secured having a gap between the plate and arm 44. Dial 30 may have projections 32 formed on the outer peripheral portion that engage with depressions 45, having curved and inclined sections (47 and 48, Fig 7), formed in arm 44. Numerals on the dials 30 are preferably viewed by notches formed in the side of the housing 22. Other dials (30, Fig 11) may be provided having a bottom chamber (33, Fig 11) provided with a spring member (40, Fig 11) which engages with a channel (52, Fig 11) formed in the dial hub (51, Fig 11). The spring member includes at least one catch (453, Fig 11), perhaps provided by an opening, to allow the positioning of the dial rotationally relative to the housing, preferably with recesses (331, Fig 11) formed in the chamber. The housing may include windows (28, Fig 11) to allow viewing of numerals on the dial.

Description

COUNTING DEVICE FOR GOLF GAMES OR THE LIKE The invention relates to a counting device for golf games or the table tennis games or the tennis games or the like.

Typical counting devices may be used for counting the strikes or the score of the golf games or the table tennis games or the tennis games or the like.

Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 81768, published 16 October 1986 discloses one of the typical counting devices which is shown in FIG. 1 and which includes eighteen dials 70 rotatably secured in a housing 71 and partially extended outward of the side portions of the housing 71 for indicating or for counting the score or the strikes of the golf games or the table tennis games or the tennis games or the like. Nine springs 1 are disposed between the pairs of dials 70 and each includes a base portion 2 solidly secured in the housing 71 and each includes a latch 4 bent relative to the springs 1 at a bent end or a bent portion 3 for engaging with the dials 70. The dials 70 may be rotated in one direction only. For example, when counting three (3), but when the user rotates to four (4) instead, the user have to rotate the dial one round through five (5), six (6)... to three (3).

Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 145691, published 11 November 1990, and Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 245978, published 21 April 1995 disclose two further

typical counting devices which are partially shown in FIG. 2 and which include a housing 10 having a number of spring legs 11 extended therefrom. The spring legs 11 each has one end 72 solidly secured to or formed integral with the housing 10 such that the spring legs 11 may include a suitable resilience to bias against the projections 73,74 of the dials 12. The spring legs 11 each has only one end secured to the housing 10 and may have a stress-concentration problem and may be easily damaged or broken from the housing after use.

As shown in FIG. 3, illustrated is another typical counting device including a number of dials 12 each having a bottom hole 120 for rotatably receiving and securing the hubs 13 of a housing 77 and each having a number of depressions 121 formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof. The hubs 13 each includes a channel 131 formed therein. The dials 12 each includes a spring 14 engaged in the hole 120 thereof and received in the channel 131 of the hub 13, and two balls 15 engaged in the ends of the spring 14 for being biased to engage with the depressions 121 of the dials 12. The typical counting device includes a complicated configuration that may not be easily manufactured and assembled.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a counting device for effectively counting the strikes or the score of the golf games or

the table tennis games or the tennis games or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a counting device comprising :- a) a housing, b) at least one spring-biasing member disposed in the housing and including a side portion having an opening for forming a spring arm, the spring arm including two ends coupled to the spring-biasing member, and c) at least one dial rotatably received in the housing and including an outer peripheral portion engaged with the spring arm of the spring-biasing member and for positioning the dial to the housing.

The housing includes a bottom plate, the springbiasing member includes a block secured on the bottom plate, and having a side portion spaced from the bottom plate for a gap, and having the spring arm formed in the side portion thereof.

The dial includes an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of projections extended therefrom, the spring arm includes a depression for receiving the projections of the dial.

The spring arm includes two inclined surfaces for forming the depression between the inclined surfaces, and includes two curved surfaces formed between the inclined surfaces and the spring arm.

The housing includes a side portion having at least one notch formed therein, the dial includes a peripheral portion having a plurality of numerals provided therein and to be shown through the notch of the housing.

One or more second dials are further provided and each includes a bottom portion having a chamber formed therein, at least one hub provided in the housing and having a channel formed therein, a second springbiasing member received in the chamber of the second dial and engaged in the channel of the hub, the second spring-biasing member including at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging with the second dial and for positioning the second dial to the housing.

The second spring-biasing member includes an opening for forming the catch. The second dial includes a plurality of recesses and communicating with the chamber thereof for receiving the catch.

The housing includes a window formed therein, the second dial includes a peripheral portion having a plurality of numerals provided therein and to be shown through the window of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plane schematic view of a typical counting device; FIG. 2 is a partial plane schematic view illustrating the other typical counting device;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view illustrating a further typical counting device; FIG. 4 is a top plane schematic view illustrating a counting device of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a bottom plane schematic view illustrating the bottom of the upper plate of a housing of the counting device in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 6 is a top plane schematic view of counting device, in which the upper plate of the housing is removed for showing the inner structure of the housing; FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the counting device; FIG. 8 is a top plane schematic view illustrating the operation of the counting device; FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view showing the other dials of the counting device; FIG. 10 is a top plane schematic view illustrating the other embodiment or the other application of the counting device; FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view showing the counting device as shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a top plane schematic view illustrating a further embodiment or application of the counting device; FIG. 13 is a top plane schematic view illustrating a still further embodiment or application of the

counting device; FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is an exploded and cross sectional view of the counting device as shown in FIGS. 13,14 ; FIG. 16 is a top plane schematic view illustrating another embodiment or application of the counting device; FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 16; and FIG. 18 is an exploded and cross sectional view of the counting device as shown in FIGS. 16,17.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 4-8, a counting device comprises a housing 20 including an upper plate 21 and a bottom plate 22 secured together by fasteners. FIG. 4 shows the upper portion of the housing 20 of the counting device, and FIG. 5 shows the bottom view of the upper plate 21. In FIG. 6, the upper plate 21 has been removed from the housing 20 for showing the inner structure of the counting device. The upper plate 21 includes two side portions each having one or more notches 23, such as nine (9) notches 23 for showing the scores of the nine (9) or the eighteen (18) holes of the golf games or the like. The upper plate 21 includes a lower portion having one or more windows 28 for showing the total numbers of the strikes or shots or

the like of the golf games.

A number of dials 30 are rotatably secured between the upper plate 21 and the bottom plate 22 with pivot pins 26 respectively, and each includes a number of numerals 31, such as the numerals from 0 to 9 provided on the upper surface, and each includes a number of projections 32 extended radially outward for allowing the dials 30 to be easily rotated relative to the housing 20 about the pivot pins 26. The numerals 31 of the dials 30 may be shown through the notches 23 of the upper plate 21 (FIG. 4). The bottom portion of the upper plate 21 includes a number of orifices 27 (FIG. 5) for rotatably receiving the pivot pins 26 respectively. The upper plate 21 may include a number of indicating numbers 24 (FIG. 4) for showing the number of the holes of the golf games, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the housing 20 includes a number of spring-biasing members 40 for engaging with and for positioning the dials 30. The housing 20 includes a recess 220 (FIG. 7) formed in the bottom of the bottom plate 22, and includes one or more apertures 221 formed through the spring-biasing members 40 (FIG.

6) for receiving fasteners or the like which may be threaded to the screw holes 210 (FIG. 5) of the upper plate 21 for securing the upper plate 21 and the bottom plate 22 together. A decorative board 222 may be engaged in the recess 220 of the bottom plate 22 and

secured to the bottom plate 22 with the fasteners. The bottom plate 22 includes a bulge 223 (FIG. 7) extended upward for supporting the spring-biasing members 40 and for partially spacing the spring-biasing members 40 from the bottom plate 22 and for forming a gap 42 between the sides of the spring-biasing members 40 and the bottom plate 22.

The spring-biasing members 40 each includes a block 400 having an opening, particularly an enclosed opening 43 formed in either or both of the sides of the block 400, for forming a spring arm 44 on the outer portion of each of the sides of the block 440. The spring arms 44 each includes two ends secured to the block 400 with an integral coupling member 41, and each includes a V-shaped depression 45 formed on the outer portion, such as formed in the middle of the outer portion of the spring arms 44 respectively for receiving the projections 32 of the dials 30. As best shown in FIG. 8, the V-shaped depressions 45 of the spring arms 44 each preferably includes a 90-degree included angle defined between two inclined sides or inclined surfaces 47. Two curved surfaces 48 are formed between the inclined sides 47 and the spring arm 44 for allowing the projections 32 of the dials 30 to be easily engaged into and disengaged from the depressions 45 of the spring arms 44.

The spring arms 44 each includes two ends solidly

secured to the block 400 with the coupling members 41, and are spaced from the block 400 with the opening 43 and spaced from the bottom plate 22 with the gap 42 (FIG. 7), such that the spring arms 14 include a suitable resilience and include an integral configuration having a suitable strength for preventing the spring arms 14 from being broken. The distance between two adjacent pivot pins 26 is smaller than the diameter of the dials 30, such that the dials 30 have a peripheral portion superposed with each other.

Referring next to FIG. 9, the housing 20 includes one or more hubs 51 provided in the lower portion thereof and each having a channel 52. The dials 30 each includes a chamber 33 for receiving a spring-biasing member 40. The spring-biasing member 40 also includes a block 400 secured in the channel 52 of the hub 51 and having an opening 43 for forming two spring arms 44 on the ends, and having two catches 453 extended outward for engaging with the recesses 331 of the dials 30 and for positioning the dials 30 to the housing 20. The numerals 31 of two adjacent dials 30 may be shown through the windows 28 of the housing 20 and may be used to indicate the total numbers of the strikes or the like of the nine holes or the eighteen holes of the golf games.

Referring next to FIGS. 10 and 11, a single dial 30 may be rotatably received in a smaller housing 20

and may include the spring-biasing member 40 disposed in the chamber 33 and disposed in the channel 52 of the hub 51 and having a number of catches 453 for engaging with the recesses 331 of the dials 30 and for positioning the dials 30 to the housing 20. The counting device includes a small size may be used for counting the strikes of one of the holes of the golf games, for example.

Referring next to FIG. 12, two pairs of dials 30 may be rotatably received in the other housing 20 and may each include a spring-biasing member 40 disposed in the chamber 33 and disposed in the channel 52 of the hub 51 for engaging with the recesses 331 of the dials 30 and for positioning the dials 30 to the housing 20.

The two pairs of the dials 30 of the counting device may each be used for counting the strikes of nine of the holes of the golf games, for example.

Referring next to FIGS. 13-15, the counting device may include nine dials 30 rotatably secured in the peripheral portion of the housing 20 for indicating the strikes of the nine holes of the golf games, and may include one or more seats 60 disposed in the middle portion of the housing 20 and each having nine springbiasing members 40 provided on the outer peripheral portion for engaging with the dials 30 respectively.

The seats 60 and the dials 30 may be disposed between the upper plate 21 and the bottom plate 22 and a

partition 29. The upper plate 21 and the partition 29 may include one or more orifices 27 for receiving the pivot pins 26.

Referring next to FIGS. 16-18, the counting device may include two or more seats 60 disposed between the upper plate 21 and the partition 29, or between the bottom plate 22 and the partition 29 respectively.

As shown in the drawings, the spring arms 44 preferably include curved portions or rounded portions formed in the sides or the depressions 45 of the spring arms 44 for smoothly engaging with the projections 32 of the dials 30 and for allowing the projections 32 of the dials 30 to be easily engaged into and disengaged from the depressions 45 of the spring arms 44.

Claims

CLAIMS :-

1. A counting device comprising: a) a housing, b) at least one spring-biasing member disposed in the housing and including a side portion having an opening for forming a spring arm, the spring arm including two ends coupled to the spring-biasing member, and c) at least one dial rotatably received in the housing and including an outer peripheral portion engaged with the spring arm of the spring-biasing member and for positioning the dial to the housing.

2. A counting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a bottom plate, the spring-biasing member includes a block secured on the bottom plate, and having a side portion spaced from the bottom plate for a gap, and having the spring arm formed in the side portion.

3. A counting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dial includes an outer peripheral portion having a plurality of projections, the spring arm includes a depression for receiving the projections of the dial.

4. A counting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring arm includes two inclined surfaces for forming the depression between the inclined surfaces, and includes two curved surfaces formed

between the inclined surfaces and the spring arm.

5. A counting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a side portion having at least one notch, the dial includes a peripheral portion having a plurality of numerals to be shown through the notch of the housing.

6. A counting device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one second dial including a bottom portion having a chamber, at least one hub provided in the housing and having a channel, a second springbiasing member received in the chamber of the second dial and engaged in the channel of the hub, the second spring-biasing member including at least one catch for engaging with the second dial and for positioning the second dial to the housing.

7. A counting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second spring-biasing member includes an opening for forming the catch.

8. A counting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second dial includes a plurality of recesses communicating with the chamber for receiving the catch.

9. A counting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A counting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing includes a window, the second dial includes a peripheral portion having a plurality of numerals to be shown through the window of the housing.

10. A counting device comprising:

a) a housing including at least one hub having a channel, b) at least one dial rotatably received in the housing and including a bottom portion having a chamber, and c) at least one spring-biasing member received in the chamber of the dial and engaged in the channel of the hub, the second spring-biasing member including at least one catch for engaging with the dial and for positioning the dial to the housing.

11. A counting device substantially as herein described with reference to FIGS. 4-18 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A counting device comprising :- a) a housing which includes a bottom plate, b) at least one spring-biasing member disposed in the housing, the spring-biasing member including a block mounted on the bottom plate and a side portion having an opening for forming a spring arm which is connected at its two ends to the spring-biasing member and is so positioned that there is a gap between the spring arm and the bottom plate, and c) at least one dial rotatably received in the housing, the dial including a peripheral portion which engages with the spring arm of the spring-biasing member for rotationally positioning the dial relative to the housing.

2. A counting device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the outer peripheral portion of the dial has a plurality of projections and the spring arm includes a depression for receiving the projections of the dial.

3. A counting device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the depression in the spring arm is of V-shape.

4. A counting device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the sides of the V-shaped depression are inclined at 90 to one another.

5. A counting device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the sides of the V-shaped depression are connected to the adjacent parts of the spring arm by curved surfaces.

6. A counting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing includes a side portion having at least one notch and in which the peripheral portion of the dial has a plurality of numerals on it to be shown through the notch of the housing.

7. A counting device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, which includes a plurality of dials and in which the housing includes a side portion having a plurality of notches, the dials having numerals on their peripheries and the numerals being visible through the notches.

8. A counting device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the housing includes a window through which numerals on the periphery of a dial are visible.