US2211635A

US2211635A - Score keeper

Info

Publication number: US2211635A
Application number: US258088A
Authority: US
Inventors: Austin B Barteaux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-02-23
Filing date: 1939-02-23
Publication date: 1940-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1957-08-13

Description

A. B. BARTEAUX I SCORE KEEPER Aug. 13, 1940.

Filed Feb. 23, 1959 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCORE KEEPER Austin B. Barteaux, West New Brighton, Staten Island, N. Y.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a game score keeper and more particularly it refers to a device for indicating a golf score, such device being associated with and forming a part of one club used in playing the game of golf.

It has been heretofore proposed to associate a score-keeping register with an instrument for playing a game, such as a golf club but such devices as known to the prior art have been no more than an indicating means aflixed to said instru- I ment. One worker in this field has suggested that a score pad be aflixed to the rear face of a golf club head and that a pencil be carried in a hole in the shaft. This is merely 'a convenient 5 method of carrying a conventional score pad.

It has also been suggested that a rotatable collar be mounted upon the handle end of the club. The collar of this device carries numerical indicia and an arrow on the club handle adjacent the collar indicates the number of strokes taken with the particular club. It is obvious that as this club is carried in a bag the indicating device will be at the bottom of the bag hidden from sight.

I have designed a scorekeeper in combination with a club peculiarly adapted to the golf game which may possibly be modified to adapt it for use with other games now known or yet to be devised. Preferably, my indicator is mounted upon the shaft of a putter adjacent the head thereof and comprises a plurality of indicating devices whereby the score of a complete game may be kept upon an implement carried during the game and used therein.

The advantages of such a device are many. The inconvenience of carrying a cardboard scoring sheet and a pencil throughout a golf game is well known to those who have played this game. The scorecard invariably becomes crumpled, dirty and is generally in an inconvenient place at the end of each hole. Pencils of a size small enough to be convenient in use are easily lost and the points usually become broken.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a scorekeeping device for the golf game whereby all the elements of the score may be entered on a unitary mechanism associated with one club of the series used during the game. The invention contemplates specifically that the scoring device shall be associated with the putter since this is the club generally used in finishing templates a scorekeeping device capable of registering the entire score for a normal game of 18 holes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 'will be apparent from a consideration of the following discussion in view of the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a golf club embodying the scorekeeping structure of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the indicating rings employed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spacing ring; and

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of that portion of the club shaft on which the indicating members are mounted.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a putter having indicating devices on the shaft adjacent the head as illustrated in Figure 1. The shaft I is joined to a head II by riveting as indicated generally at l2. For a portion of its length adjacent the head the shaft is of reduced diameter and has a plurality of indicating rings [3 mounted thereabout. Each indicating ring l3 has a series of numbers stamped, engraved or otherwise marked about its periphery in sequence. A raised knurled portion I4 is provided at one edge of each ring in order that the ring may be readily rotated by the fingers of the user.

For reasons more fully brought out hereinafter, the rings are grouped by interposing spacing rings l of a color contrasting with the color of indicating rings l3 at certain intervals. At opposite ends of the region of the shaft l0 occupied by rings 13 and IS the words out" and in" together with arrows pointing toward the said region are marked as by stamping, engraving or the like.

As shown in Figure 5 the shaft underlying the indicating rings l3 and the spacing rings i5 is provided with a plurality of grooves IS. A projection I! on the inner surface of each of the rings I3 is pos tioned to engage the grooves IS. The wall of indicating ring [3 is cut to form a slot I9 for a portion of its circumference ad jacent the raised knurled portion l4 to impart a spring action to that part of the ring on which the projection 11 is formed. It must be clearly understood that the dimensions of the grooves l6 and edges I! are preferably much smaller than shown here and the dimensions thereof in the drawing are exaggerated for purposes of iilustration. In that embodiment of the invention found to be most suitable, the grooves I6 are very narrow and very shallow and may be produced by scoring the golf club shaft in a suitable manner. Similarly the ridges I! are preferably so small that they may be referred to as hairllnes.

The number of grooves I6 and ridges II shown in the appended drawing are not to be regarded as controlling of the invention. Any number of cooperating grooves, and ridges which will give a number of positions for the indicating rings I3 corresponding to the number of scoring indicia about the outer surface of the said rings, will be found suitable. Although a single projection I1 is preferred since it may be given a spring action by reason of the ring wall being free of the portion [4 for a portion of its length,

any number (from one to ten) of projections I I will give advantageous results.

I prefer to mark scoring indicia about the surface of the said rings I3 using the digits from 0 to 9 in order and-I therefore provide for ten possible positions for the scoring rings. In order to obtain ten possible positions as aforesaid, it is preferred that the interior of the rings I3 be provided with one ridge I1 and that the shaft be scored or otherwise provided with ten grooves I 6. Since the primary function of the spacing rings I5 is to give a convenient grouping of the indicating rings I3, it is relatively immaterial whether or not the rings I5 are provided with ridges corresponding to the ridges I! of the indicating rings I3. If'it is desired that the rings I5 be rigidly positioned upon the shaft I 0 the said spacing rings may be preformed of relatively small internal diameter and shrunk onto the shaft I0 after heating or they may be fitted with a plurality of ridges in similar fashion to the construction of the indicating rings I3.

In constructing or assembling the score keeper of my invention, I may start with a shaft and head designed for any type of putter but I prefer to use a putter having a steel shaft. I first reduce the diameter of a portion of the putter shaft adjacent the head end thereof for a length suitable to receivemy novel indicating .device. This region of reduced diameter is then provided with grooves I6 as by scoring or any other suitable machining technique. The word out together with an arrow may be stamped directly on the shaft above the portion of reduced diameter or it may be engraved or otherwise marked upon a collar which is subsequently fitted on the shaft and rigidly positioned with respect thereto. Thereafter the rings I5 and I3 are assembled upon the reduced diameter portion of the shaft in a desired relation and the spacing rings I5 are rigidly fixed to the shaft as desired. Alternatively, the rings I5 may fit loosely on the shaft if desired. A collar I8 having the word "in and an arrow stamped or otherwise marked thereon is now slipped over the end of the shaft and rigidly fixed thereto by any suitable means. Thereafter the club head is aflixed to the shaft by riveting or any other conventional method.

As noted above; the dimensions shown here are purely for purposes of illustration and are exaggerated to a material extent. In order to enable others skilled in the art to practice the preferred embodiment of this invention, the approximate measurements of the various portions of a putter which have been found to give very good results are set forth below.

A steel shaft designed for a putter and having a diameter of approximately is machined down to about along that portion of its length adjacent the head which is desired to carry the indicating indicia. The indicating rings I3 are extremely thin walled and have a total width parallel to the axis thereof of about 95 of which A" carries the indicating indicia while li is raised and knurled to provide a finger grip. Spacing rings I5 have about the same wall thickness and are about in width. These latter were colored black to give a good contrast with the light colored metal of the indicating rings I3. As has been pointed out above the grooves I6 and ridges II are of very small dimension and are difilcult to define numerically.

It will be noted that the arrows at the ends of the indicating indicia define a line along which lies one digit of each of the rings I3 when each of the said rings I3 is held in position by the cooperating ridges I 'l and grooves I6. I have so grouped the indicating rings I3 by interposing spacing rings I5 that provision is made for a two-digit number adjacent each of the ends of the indicating mechanism. The pair of indicating ringsadjacent the word out" are adapted to indicate the total score for the first nine holes of a normal eighteen hole game, while the pair of indicating rings adjacent the word in are intended to register the score for the second nine holes.

Each of the nine indicating rings I3 between the two end pairs of such rings are intended to indicate the score for one hole of a normal nine hole course.

Although my novel scoring device may be incorporated with a club of any type normally used in a golf game, I prefer that it shall be made a part of a putter since this club usually is the last one used unless the player is unusually skilled and/or lucky and holes out with a shot from the fairway. After holing out, the player holds the putter by grasping the shaft in the left hand with the club head hanging downward and rotates the proper scoring ring I3 to a position such that a digit on said ring corresponding to the number of strokes taken for the hole just finished lies along the line defined by the arrows at each end of the scoring mechanism. As each digit successively comes into the said line the contact of ridges I1 and grooves I6 will produce a clearly audible click and the meshing of the said parts will be productive of a distinctly perceptible difference in the feeling of the ring I3 during rotation. The raised knurled portion I4 of each ring I3 renders rotation of the ring very easy and the meshing of ridge II with one of the grooves I6 positively retains the ring I3 in desired position against shock or accidental dislocation in normal handling of the club.

During the playing of an 18 hole course the score for each of the first nine holes, which nine hole course constitutes half of the game, will be indicated from left to right starting with the third ring I3 from the left hand end of the scoring mechanism. Each of the nine scoring rings I3 is grouped with two other such rings by the interposition of the spacing rings I5 thereby making it easy to determine at a glance what hole is being played or the score for any particular hole of the nine. After finishing nine holes the total of the individual scores of these nine holes is calculated and that total is registered on the two rings adjacent the word out.

The nine rings I 3 in the middle portion of the scoring device are then rotated to register zero and the second nine holes are played indicating the score for each of the second nine in the same manner as indicated above.

Upon finishing the eighteen hole game, the total score for the second nine is calculated and indicated on the two rings I 3 adjacent the word in. The indicating device of the present invention thus provides a means for registering the total score of a normal eighteen hole golf game as two separate scores, one for each of the nine hole courses making up the game. This is the form in which most golfers desire to have their score available. It will be apparent that a greater number of rings may be provided in order that the individual scores for each of the eighteen holes can be registered. However, it is believed that the present form is more convenient in use and suits the needs of a greater number of golfers.

It is well recognized by golfers that the important feature of a score is the individual score for each hole. Most players prefer to compare a score hole by hole rather than on the total for a course since it is only in this manner that faults may be evaluated and corrected. The present device permits such a comparison and enables the player to use his score to the best advantage in improving his game.

The present invention renders unnecessary the usual irritating score card and pencil. It makes possible the register of a score on a device normally in the golfers hands atthe time a hole is finished and the final score therefor is known.

A further advantage of this invention lies in the fact that the score registered is immediately available to the player at all times by reason of the fact that it is on that portion of one of the clubs near the top of the bag and is readily pulled out part way and oriented by turning the club so that the face of the head is downward as the person reading the score holds the club below his eyes and the club shaft rotates by reason of the weight of the head. While the invention contemplates the use of the present scoring device on any club of the set normally used by a golfer. I have found that it is much more convenient to associate the present device with the putter for reasons noted above.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not exhaustive or limiting of the invention but on the contrary is described as exemplary of the principles and operation of a preferred embodiment thereof in order that others skilled in the art may adapt the same to any desired use.

I claim? 1. A score indicating device comprising a shaft and a score indicating ring mounted for rotation about said shaft, a plurality of numerical indicia successively disposed about said score indicating ring, a raised knurled portion on said ring and separated from that portion of said ring bearing said indicia for a portion of the circumference thereof, a ridge on the interior of said ring parallel to the axis thereof and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to said ridge, said ridge being on the interior of that portion of said ring, bearing said indicia which is separated from said knurled portion.

2. An indicating device comprising a shaft and said shaft, a plurality of indicia successively disposed about said ring, a raised knurled portion on said ring and separated from that portion of said ring bearing said indicia for a portion of the circumference thereof, at least one ridge on the interior of said ring parallel to the axisthereof and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to said ridge, said ridge being on the in terior of a portion of said ring bearing said indicia which is separated from said knurled portion.

3. An indicating device comprising a shaft and an indicating ring mounted for rotation about said shaft, said ring being of substantially cylindrical form and having one portion thereof separated from the remainder of the ring by a circumferential opening through the wall of said ring extending for a portion of the circumference thereof to afford a weakened portion of said ring capable of distortion, at least one ridge on the interior of said weakened portion parallel to the axis of said ring and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to said ridge.

4. An indicating device comprising a shaft and an indicating ring capable of distortion mounted for rotation about said shaft, a plurality of indicia successively disposed about said ring, a rigid means adapted to be gripped by the fingers for manual rotation of the ring attached to that portion of the ring bearing said indicia for a portion only of the circumference thereof, at least one ridge on the interior of said ring parallel to the axis thereof and a plurality of grooves in said shaft parallel to said ridge, said ridge being on the interior of that portion of said ring which is not secured to said rigid means.

AUSTIN B, BAR'I'EAUX.

an indicating ring mounted for rotation about