US2208009A - Down indicator - Google Patents

Description

y 1940. G. H. ROSENBOOM ET AL 2,203,009

DOWN INDICATOR EN PU E SENBOOM H RO V. E. SI MPIONS Filed July 24, 1939 Patented July 16, 1940 UiTE ATE? FlCE DOWN INDICATOR Application July 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,062

4 Claims.

I This invention relates generally to sporting goods, and particularly to down indicators for use in connection with football games.

The main object of this invention is to provide a visible indicator by means of which the linesman may acquaint the spectators with the number of downs.

A The second object is to construct an indicator by means of which the linesman can easily indi cate the down by means of unusually large numerals ranging from 1 to 4, the various numerals having distinctly different backgrounds, reference being made especially to the colors thereof.

The third object is to so construct the operating mechanism that a single movement by the operator will cause the previous down" number to be cancelled and the new down number to be exposed.

The fourth object is to so construct the device that it will be easy to handle and transport and will not easily be rendered inoperative by rough usage.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the rod portion shortened.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the indicator units.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the keyboard.

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 6-45 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of the device showing all of the indicators cancelled.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Similar numerals refer throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a linesmans rod l near the upper end of which is formed a base ll upon which is mounted an opaque casing l2. Within the casing I2 are disposed the concentric cylinders [53, i4, I and I6, all of which are slidable along the axis of the rod ID. The cylinders E3 to 16 have indicated thereon the numerals I! which range from 1 to 4 respectively, the numeral 4 being on the cylinder it.

Each of the cylinders l3 to Hi has depending therefrom an operating bar l8. To the bars 8 to similar parts are attached the keys is, 20, 2| and 22 which are adapted to slide in the slots 23 in the keyboard 24 which is mounted on the bracket 25, which in turn is secured to the rod it). Each of the keys I9, 20, 2! and 22 is fastened to a slide 26 which operates within its respective slot 23, the flattened end 21 of the bar l8 forming the front bearing surface and the angle member 28 forming the rear bearing surface.

The upper end 29 of the member 26 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 8 to receive the spring urged finger 30 which normally rests upon the angle member 28.

Behind the keyboard 24 is mounted an elongated pawl which is pivotal on the shaft 32. The pawl Si is urged toward the angle 28 by means of the spring 33. The pawl 3i is keyed to the shaft 32 as is the lever 36 which is connected by means of a rod 35 to a bell crank key release lever 36,

Within the casing I2 is disposed a battery 3i whose leads 38 and 39 are connected to the springs 40 whose upper ends are attached to the U-shaped member ll on which are mounted the lamps 42 which are energized by the battery 31 under the control of the switch 43.

On the member 4| is mounted the cap 44 which is urged downwardly against any or all of the members l3 to Hi by means of the springs 39 and 40, A guide rod 15 is slidably mounted in the upper end of the rod I0 and is secured by means of the screw 46 to the cap 44.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The device is normally in the position shown in Fig. 7 in which no down indicating numerals are visible. However, if the linesman wishes to indicate that there is a first down, he merely moves the key !9 to its uppermost position which movement causes the pawl 3| to move out of the way and again return to its position of rest on the underside of the angle member 28, as shown in Fig. 6, holding the key IS in an uppermost position. Since the key I9 is attached by means of the bar [8 to the cylinder l3 which carries the numeral l preferably on four sides, it can be seen that this numeral will now be visible. In travelling upwards the cylinder l3 carries with it the cap 44. If the game is played at night and illumination is desirable, this is obtained by the use of the switch 43 which permits the battery 31 to energize the lamps 42.

Now if the operator wishes to indicate the second down, he merely raises the key 20. As it travels upward, the finger 30 contacts the pawl 3| causing it to move farther than it would be moved by the mere passing of the member 28 and thereby releasing the key 19 and permitting it with its cylinder l3 to return to a lowermost position.

It is desirable to provide a resilient cushion 4! at the bottom of the casing I2 to absorb the shock of the falling cylinder.

If it is desired to clear the keyboard, for example after a touchdown is made, the linesman needs merely to operate the lever 36 in a manner to cause the pawl 3] to release whichever key l9 to 22 is elevated, restoring the device to the position shown in Fig. '7.

While the release key 36 is shown lower than the other keys and operated in a difierent' manner, it is clear that any convenient form of release mechanism could be used without departing from the spirit of this invention.

We are, of course, aware that various forms of indicating devices have been constructed in the past, and it is therefore not our desire to cover such devices broadly, but we do intend to cover all such forms and modifications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a linesmans rod having a cylindrical casing disposed near the upper end thereof, a plurality of colored transparent cylinders 2. A device of the class described consisting of an upright linesmans rod, a cylindrical casing mounted near the upper end of said rod, a plurality of concentric colored transparencies mounted in said casing and vertically slidable with relation thereto, a cap adapted to form a yieldable cover for said casing or for any of said transparencies when in an elevated position, means of selectively elevating said transparencies and means for releasing said raised transparencies and returning same to a concealed position within the casing.

3. The apparatus described in claim 2, together with means for illuminating the interior of said transparencies.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of an upright linesmans rod, a cylindrical casing encircling said rod near the upper end thereof and coaxial therewith, a cap for said casing having a guide rod thereon adapted to slide within said linesmans rod, a spring for urging said cap in a closing direction, a plurality of colored transparencies telescopically disposed around the axis of said linesmans rod, each of said members having the number of a down indicated thereon, a keyboard associated with said linesmans rod having slidable key members mounted therein, each of said keys being connected to its respective numbered cylinder whereby said cylinders may be selectively raised, a

latch for holding the various cylinders in a supported position and a separate release mechanism provided with an excess movement whereby any raised cylinder may be lowered before a subsequent cylinder is raised.

GUSTAF H. ROSENBOOM. VTRGIL E. SIMMONS.

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