US2324453A - Winding reel for maps or the like - Google Patents

Description

July 13, 1943. M. H. ALBERS 2,324,453

vWINDINGr REEL FOR MAPS OR THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 I M//A/Jzow Q llllllllllu( .'llllll llll Illllllllltll ull lllll INVENTOR.

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5 f5 'Y A BY July 13, 1943. M. H. ALBERS WINDING REEL FOR MAPS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1941 M 6 a m T. ms mm. 5 L A.. .M 0 M Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDING REEL FOR MAPS OR THE LIKE Milo H. Albers, Wichita, Kans. Application May 2, 1941, Serial No. 391,584

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a winding reel for maps, or the like, and has for one of its objects, a compact mechanism having a visual opening through the top, across which a map or directional guide may be moved to locate points of interest therealong, such as cities, tourist camps, and notations made on the map, and also the mileage from place to place being marked thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of suicient size so that the information placed on the map is clear with respect to visibility, and furthermore the device is adaptable to being placed in a motor vehicle in View of the driver.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an internal illumination for the casing of the device so that the indicia of the map is discernible in the dark or subdued light.

A still further Object of this invention is to provide a device ofy the character herein described that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, elicient in its performance, and furthermore the simplicity of exchanging maps for different routes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a winding mechanism for the map carrying spools of the device that will turn the spools separately and in opposite directions, which, in turn, Will move the map oppositely its entire length or to any point thereon selectively.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the Winding reel mechanism, the top and other parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1, the casing removed along line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the master gears.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6 6 in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the toothed clutch for the master gears.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of a bracket to carry the device attached to a steering post.

The invention herein disclosed consists of a casing comprised of a bottom I ends 2 and 3, respectively, and one side 4, all integrally joined,

and a removable side wall 5, also a removable top 6.

Upwardly extending from the upper edge of wall 3 is a pair of apertured lips- I spaced apart while the adjacent end of the top is notched to straddle the lips, each notch having a tongue 8 to engage in the aperture of its respective lip, While the other end of the top is notched to engage a pair of tongues 9. It will now be seen that the top is maintained in registry with the side and end Walls, and secured against lateral and longitudinal movement, the top being rockably connected at end wall 3 so that the other end of the top is free to move upward at the .i time of removal, but secured in place by a lip Ill frictionally engaging on a nob II secured inward of end wall 2, the said top being so engaged is accessible means to the interior of the casing.

The removable side has notched edges to engage on lips I2 along its bottom and end wall edges as shown in Fig. 4, said side being removable for the purpose later described.

Concentrically positioned through the bottom of the casing is a slot I3 having a transverse slot I4 crossing one end through which the head A of a bolt I5 will enter for sliding movement of the bolt along slot I3 as securing means for the case to a bracekt I6 clamped to the steering post Il, the bracket having an elongated slot B to move the case toward and from the steering post, this being one method of carrying the structure in a motor vehicle. It will be seen that the slots above referred to have a covering I8 applied to the inner side of the bottom, the' covering being depressed to provide room for the thickness of the bolt head while the shoulders C of the depression will retain the bolt head from turning at the time of turning a nut that threadedly engages on the bolt, the said plate also serving as a reinforcing means for the bottom adjacent the slots.

Journalled in the casing adjacent each end thereof is a spool I9 and 20, respectively, the spools being rotatably mounted o-n their respective shafts 2I' axially extending through the spools, the ends of the shafts being carried against rotation by their respective side Walls' in such way that the end of the shaft adjacent side wall 4 has its bearing in an aperture in the wall and removable therefrom, while the other end engages in a square aperture in the removable side wall 5 and being integrally secured thereto for the purpose later described.

Positioned between the spools and being jourshaft clockwise the nalled in the side wall is a shaft 22, one end of the shaft having a spindle 22l to engage in an aperture extending through side Wall 4 at which point the wall is reinforced by an outward extension D, while the other end of the shaft is journalled in a knurled bearing 23 seating in the removable side wall 5, and being secured therein by a nut 24 threadedly engaging on the inner end of the bearing as shown in Fig. 5, the said knurled bearing being reamed at its inner end to receive a collar 25 seated therein, the collar being rigidly secured to the shaft to avoid longitudinal movement outward through the bearing. Positioned on the end of the shaft projecting through the knurled bearing is a crank 26 having a sleeve 26 axially bored to engage on the shaft and being secured thereto by a set screw 21. the crank as turning means for the shaft.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the knurled bearing is a gear 28 having a series of ratcheted teeth 29 concentrically positioned and radially extending a short distance from the bore of the gear to be engaged by the ratcheted teeth 30 of a clutch element 3| rotatably with the shaft as turning means for said gear, the movement bf the clutch being later described, and another gear 32 of equal pitch diameter to the rst said gear, last said gear having a recessed extension 33 to receive the clutch element insertible therein, the recess having a series of ratcheted teeth 34 in the bottom thereof to be engaged by similar teeth 35 on their adjacent end of the clutch element, said extension having a hub axially bored to rotatably engage on said shaft, there being a collar 35 secured to the shaft by a set screw 31 as means to retain the gear in spaced. relation from the Clutch element, and the said gears being spaced apart by an annular extension 38 integral with the confronting side of said gear. 28, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that the clutch element is cylindrical in form and axially bored to engage on the shaft slidably, each end of the clutch as heretofore described having a series of teeth radially extending and slanting oppositely to engage with their respective coinciding teeth of the gears. Said clutch has a slot 39 slantingly positioned and extending through the wall thereof to receive a pin 40 secured to the shaft and slidable in the slot to move the clutch longitudinally l on the shaft as the pin is rocked from one end lto the other of the slot, by a turn of the shaft,

fthe slanting walls of the slot to function as a `lcam to move the clutch element; being so arranged, when the shaft is turned anticlockwise, `the 4teeth of the clutch will engage with the teeth of the gear 28 as shown in Fig. 5 to turn the same in one continuous direction, and by a turn of the pin in response will move the clutch to engagement with the ratcheted teeth -ofthe other gear to turn the same oppositely to that of the first said gear.

' Trunnioned at the removable side wall 5 are gears 4l and 42 on shafts 43 in mesh with their respective gears 28 and 32, and a gear 44 and;- 45 that are secured to their respective spool ends, whereby anticlockwise turn of the shaft 22 by itscrank will in turn revolve spool I9 in the same direction as means to wind a route map on said spool, the end of the map being secured thereto vby a at hook 41 engaging in an eye 48 in the end of the map, it being understood that prior to such winding the map is wound on the other spool which is free to revolve as its respective train of gears are disengaged from the clutch for free wheeling, and vice versa to wind the map on spool 2U the crank is turned clockwise, the movement of which will engage the clutch with the inside gear 32 instant to its disengagement with the other gear.

It will now be seen that the map may be moved longitudinally in either direction by winding the same on the spools alternately, the same being accomplished by the turning movement of a sin- `gle crank shaft; in other words, free wheeling is larranged for the spool from which the map is being unwound.

As a means to avoid excess slack of the map between the spools, there is arranged in each spool a coil spring 49, the spring seated in an axial bore of the spool body terminating a spaced distance inward from the end thereof, the impact of the spring being impinged with a pair of washers 5U, one being at the bottom of the bore and the other being secured by a pin 5i diametrically passing through the shaft adjacent the outer end of the spool, whereby a friction brake is formed by the expansion of the spring.

As a rigid support for the portion of the map between the spools, there is positioned across the casing a transparent or a translucent plate 52 of an improved substance, said plate being carried by the side walls that are notched downward to receive the same flush with the upper edges of the wall, each end of each notch and plate being correspondingly dove-tailed as at 53 to avoid an upward or outward movement of the plate when seated therein.

It will also be seen that the oppositely disposed edges of the plate are arced downward so that the map will slide thereover.

The top of the casing has an opening substantially in registry with the plate as accessible means to the map to mark notations thereon.

As a means to illuminate the inap in the dark or subdued light there is provided an electric lamp 54 carried by the bottom of the casing beneath the plate and electric wiring 55 to connect the lamp with a source of electric current, there being a switch appropriately placed to the convenience of the driver to make and break the current for the lamp, the switch not being shown in the drawings.

The removable side Wall heretofore explained is secured in place by screws 56 threadedly engaging in their respective shafts 43, axial thereof, whereby said shafts are secured to the other sideI wall, while the other ends of the shaft are integrally joined to the removable side wall by welding or otherwise.

It will now be seen when said screws 55 are removed, wall 5 may be removed'carrying therewith the spools, gear shafts, and the map, whereby the assembly of the component parts of the reel, as carried by the said removable side wall, is a convenience for repair or general assembly of the structure.

As a convenient means to indicate ownership of the device, there is a space provided on the top adjacent each end thereof, one of which is symbolized as at E representing the name of a firm or line of business or the owner of the vehicle and device.

While I have shown and described a map relating to 'a tourist log, the same may be changed for other purposes; for example, duplicate bills, statements, and game schedules; also tabular-ions for records such as phone numbers, business or domestic addresses or appointment records, and furthermore to bus routes, truck lines, and logs for airplane navigation, all being operated by my reel free wheeling mechanism operated by a single crank shaft heretofore described. Attention is further directed that the train of gears may be substituted by series of belts and pulleys with equal efficiency, and such other modifications may be made as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a winding reel for maps or the like of the class described, the combination of a rectangular casing, the casing comprised of ends, one side and a bottom integrally joined, the other side removably secured to the bottom and ends, and a top having a centrally disposed rectangular opening therethrough, the top being removably secured to the sides and end walls, and a removable plate extending across the opening and being carried by the side walls a spaced distance inward from the top, said casing having a spool journalled in its side walls adjacent each end of the casing and the spools having a route map wound thereon to convey the map across the plate adjacent the opening in the top, a shaft centrally positioned in the casing and being journalled in the side walls, the journalled bearing in the removable side wall being a knurled bearing axially bored to receive the shaft, said bearing extending through said wall and secured therein by a nut threadedly engaging on the inner end of the bearing, the shaft having a collar secured thereto and rotatable therewith, said collar abutting the end of the bearing, said shaft having a crank on its outer end adjacent the knurled bearing, 'a pair of gears rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent the knurled bearing, and gear means connecting each of rst said gears to each of said spools respectively, one of first said gears having a hollow hub outwardly extending from its side opposite the other gear, said hub having radially disposed teeth inward of its outer end and spaced around the shaft, the other gear having similar teeth secured to its side adjacent the hub and extending slightly inward thereof, 'a circular clutch element axially bored to loosely engage on the shaft and move longitudinally thereon for engagement with the gears selectively, and means to cause rotation of the clutch element with the shaft and sliding movement thereon toward and from each gear selectively, said clutch element having a series of teeth on each end thereof to engage with their respective gears with respect to the turning direction of the shaft whereby said gear means are engaged selectively to turn their respective spools to convey the map across the plate in either direction in response to the directional turn of the shaft.

2. In a Winding reel for maps, or the like, said reel having a casing comprised of a bottom, sides, ends, an open top, a spool rotatably positioned adjacent each end of the casing and an elongated map adapted to be wound on the spools to move across the opening in the top, a rotatable shaft trunnioned in the sides of the casing intermediate of the ends of the casing and in parallelism with the spools, another shaft secured rigidly to the casing intermediate the rotatable shaft and each of the spools, a gear secured to each spool and another gear trunnioned on each of last said shafts and in mesh with its respective spool gear, and another pair of gears positioned loosely on the rotatable shaft, said gears being in close proximity and a side of one gear confronting the side of the other gear, one of last said gears being in mesh with one of the second named gears while the other last said gear is in mesh with the other of second named gears, each confronting side of last said gears having teeth formed therein and a clutch element mounted on the shaft between last said gears, said clutch element having teeth on each end thereof to selectively engage the ends of the clutch element with their respective gears, and means on the shaft to move the clutch element longitudinally on the shaft to engagement with its respective gear when the shaft is selectively turned.

MILO H. ALBERS.

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