US2526495A - Grip testing device - Google Patents

Description

0a. 17, 1950 c. G. MEYER 2,526,495

GRIP TESTING DEVICE 5- Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1946 filare k er- He's A tfiorney C. G. MEYER GRIP TESTING DEVICE Oct. 17, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed bec. 20, 1946 fl .l @plwu W. R we .M &||| 8 e 2 g )3 o O i 9 9 1' o i o 5 do 7 5 Wm w w 0 2 2 A; k.

Oct. 17, 1950 c. s. MEYER 2,526,495

GRIP TESTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fild Dec. 20, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

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0a. 17, 1950 c. G. MEYER 2,526,495

GRIP TESTING DEVICE Filed use. 20, 194% s Shets-Shet 4 INVENTOR. Clare fljfle 6/ Oct. 17, 1950 c. GQMEYER 2,526,495

GRIP TESTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 20, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CZareffJ/y g #63 46$ am e Patented Oct. 17, 1950 GRIP TESTING DEVICE Clare G. Meyer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Exhibit Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,473 '7 Claims. (Cl. '73380 My invention relates to grip testing devices.

More specifically the invention relates to an apparatus having a plurality of electric bulbs ar: ranged in alignment to the rear of a glass panel having superimposed over the aligned bulbs a picture or outline of a thermometer, whereby when the gripping apparatus of the device is actuated and by reason of such actuation, these light bulbs are successively illuminated, they will simulate the rise of mercury in the thermometer.-

In this aspect of the invention, the object is to provide a device of the character hereinafter describedwhich will be simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and easy of operation,

together with the object of affording pleasureas well as amusement to the operator.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which Fig. l is a perspective view of an apparatus em bodying my invention and with a face panel thereof partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the gripping members embodied in the invention; a

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 with the back wall or rear panel removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary back perspective View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrating a hinged mounting panel in partly open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the gripping de-v vice and light bulb control mechanism embodied in the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of certain resetting mechanism embodied in the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of a coin slide embodied in the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical plan view of an electric circuit embodied in the invention.

The several objects of my invention are accomplished by the preferred form of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings a cabinet is indicated at Hi. This cabinet comprises an upper section l i and a lower section I2, the upper section it being stepped back from the'topof the lower section !2 to provide an exposed top wall I3.

The front wall M of the cabinet Ill carries a coin slide l5. This coin slide I5 per se con: stitutes no part of the present invention. Any

1 bars 25.

approved coin slide may be used. It is preferable that a coin slide of the construction shown in United States Patent No. 1,908,380, dated May 9, 1933, be employed, in which coin slide there is provided a guide structure it and a slide plate H. The guide structure 56 is connected to the wall M by suitable bolts I8. This slide ll pro- Vides a finger piece l9 and, like the slide of the patent referred to, has a coin receiving aperture (not shown) in which the coin is deposited in order to condition the aparatus for operation.

The lower section l2 of the .cabinet it) provides oppositely disposed supporting cleats 20 on which is removably supported a mounting plate 2|. This mounting plate 2] has a cutout portion 22 for reasons hereinafter more apparent.

On this mounting-plate 2!, there is secured, as by means of screws 23', a substantially flat plate 24. On this plate 24, and arranged in confrontingrelation with respect to each other are guide .bars 25, providing, together with the plate 24, guiding grooves 26. These guide bars 25 are secured to this plate 24 by means of screws 21. These guide bars 25 are included as a part of a pressure grip resisting apparatus comprising an elongated. bar 28 having cutout portions 29 for the passage of the bars 25 and to provide projections 30 which project into the guiding grooves 25. Formed in this bar 28 is an opening 3|, through which projects a shaft 3!! fixed to and carried by a bracket 32, in turn secured to the plate 24 by spot welding or the like. Loosely mounted on this shaft 3| is an expansion spring Secured to the bar 28 are eyelet bolts 34. Secured to a plate 35, in turn connected as at 36 to the mounting plate 2!, are eyelet bolts 3'! spacedl substantially from the eyelet bolts 35 and connected to such bolts 34 by means of complementary springs 38. These springs 38 have connec tion with their respective eyelet bolts, through the medium of the hook-shaped ends 39 thereof. Suitable cushioning stops are provided to limit the movement of the bar 28 relative to the guide This cushioning stopping means includes a pair of rubber studs ti supported by brackets 42 connected to the plate 24 as at 43.

Secured to the bar 28 a at 4 and extending rearwardly therefrom between the springs 38, is a connecting rod 45, bifurcated as at it. Positioned in this bifurcation it is a link 41 (Figs. 2 and 6). This link 41 is pivotally connected to the rod is by means of a pintle 48.

The upper end portion of the link Al terminates into a gripping bar 49. The link 41 projects through an escutcheon plate 5% provided by the top wall i3 and is pivoted to this escutcheon plate 58 by means of a pintle 5!. The rear face 52 of the gripping bar 49 is provided with undulations 53 to correspond to the shape and curvature of that portion of the fingers of the hand by which this bar is gripped.

A complementary gripping bar 54 is provided and this bar 4 is disposed forwardly of the bar $9 and formed as an integral part of the escutcheon plate 50. This escutcheon plate 58 provides a reduced portion 55 which fits into an opening 5% formed in the top wall I3, and is secured in this opening by means of a plate 57 secured to the reduced portion 5 by means of screws The plate 2i provides a portion 2i on which are mounted a transformer 69 and wire terminals or clamps M which afford connection for the circuit wires hereinafter more fully explained in reference to Fig. 9. This transformer 6t and wire terminals or clamps 5i constitute no part of the present invention and are shown for illustrative purposes only.

On the plate 2c is mounted a spring timing device of a well known construction, including a reset arm 63 and a switch unit 64 comprising contact fingers 65 normally moved into contact with respect to each other by bearing roller 65. This timin device 62 per se constitutes no part of the present invention and, for that reason, only so much of the timing device has been illus trated as necessary for an understanding of the operation herein.

On this plate 24 and insulated therefrom is a switch Gl' comprising spring switch leaves ti and 69. Adjacent this switch 6? is a flexible pressure leaf it having a projection ll formed of insulating material and adapted, when bearing against the switch leaf 69, to move the latter into contact with the switch leaf 68, the flexing of this leaf 1G being effected as hereinafter more fully described.

On the plate 2-5 is secured as at 7 I an upstanding plate 712. On this plate 12 there are provided bearing brackets 73 which slidably support reset rod i l. One end portion of this reset rod I l is angled to provide a lateral extension I5 adapted to be engaged (Fig. 7) by an arm it carried by the slide plate i! as at Ti. This arm '56 provides a depending finger 76 having a horizontal extension carrying a roller i9 adapted to engage the leaf it for flexing the same in a manner to close the switch El.

A link 8% is pivotally connected to the opposite end portion of the reset rod M as at iii. This link S 3 extends downwardly through the cutout portion 32 of the plate 25 and is adapted to have bearing engagement with a roller 82 carried by a drum i333 hereinafter more fully set forth. This link 89 is pivoted as at 84 to a bracket 85 connected as at 85 to an adjacent portion of the plate 25.

Secured to the bar 28 as at 8? and extending rearwardly therefrom is a pusher arm 83 having a lateral pin 8t adapted to engage an upstanding arm 98 secured as at 95 to the drum 83 and having a lateral extension 92 carrying the roller 82.

The lower section I2 of the cabinet I9, beneath the cleats 20, provides a second pair of cleats which removably support a mounting plate 93. On this plate 93 is a U-shaped bracket 94, the limbs 95 of which rotatably support the drum 83.

This drum 83 carries a contact plate 96 having a slanting edg 91 for successive engagement with a plurality of contact fingers 9B. The drum 83 is formed of non-conductive material. These contact fingers 98 are carried by a mounting board 99 of non-conductive material, and this mounting board 99 is supported from the plate 93 by ieet Illil. These contact fingers 98 are each connected to circuit wires IE! I.

These circuit wires 50! are connected to one side of electric bulbs iii? (Fig. 9), the opposite sides IE3 of the bulbs being connected to a common conductor Iii i in turn connected to one side N35 or the secondary coil I of a transformer I87, the primary side 53:3 of the transform-er it! being connected to the power line The opposite side 9 I0 of the secondary coil {65 has connection with one of the contact fingers C5 of the switch Ed, the other contact finger 55 being connected to the switch leaf 69 of the switch 67. The switch leaf E8 of this switch 6? is connected to the plate 96 as at 9?.

In Fig. 9, this circuit just described has been diagrammatically illustrated and whil I have shown only five lamps in this circuit, it is to be understood that the circuit will employ the number of lamps as are mounted on the panel IIi.

Referring to Fig. 9, the uppermost of the lamps I62 has incorporated in its circuit an electric bell H2 for reasons hereinafter more fully eX- plained. Shunted across the secondar coil I06 of the transformer Iil'l is an electric bulb lI3.

This bulb H3 is arranged in the socket IM, carried as at H5 by the panel III. This panel III is hinged to an adjacent side wall H5 by means of hingles l I? and latched in closed position by means of a suitable latch H8.

The face i I9 of the panel I II is provided with recesses I26, into which the sockets (not shown) carrying the bulbs I92 are adapted to be mounted. These bulbs I02 are arranged in alignment with respect to each other to the rear of a glass I2I. The major portion of this glass I2I is opaque.

A longitudinal medial portion I22 thereof is semi-transparent and is designed to represent a thermometer I 23 with an enlarged area I24 5 representing the mercury bowl, and an area I25 representing the channel through which mercury in a thermometer ordinarily rises. The glass IZI has digits I25 appearing thereon to indicate the degree of grip pressure. The light bulb H3 is disposed to the rear of the area i representing the mercury bulb.

The coin slide plate I! is returned to its normal position by means of a spring 75, fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 5 and showing one end connected to the arm 75, while the opposite end is intended to be connected in any suitable manner to an adjacent portion of the front wall Id of the cabinet section I2. Coins from the slide l! are intended to drop into a coin channel H from whence they will pass into a suitable receptacle (not shown).

The operation of my device is as follows. An operator will deposit a coin in the coin slide I5, which coin permits the slide plate means, shown in the United States Patent No. 1,998,380, to be moved inwardly. As the coin slide I5 is moved inwardly, the roller 79 will move away from the leaf spring It, thus permitting the spring leaves 58 and 69 to move from. contact with respect to each other to open the switch II. Continued inward movement of the slide I! brings the roller '59 into contact with the reset arm I53 of the spring timing device 62 and, in a well known manner, the reset arm 63 will then close the switch 64, but as the switch 61 is opened, the circuit to the light bulbs 102" is broken.

Continued inward movement brings the depending finger 16' into contact with the lateral extension of the reset rod 14. -'Movement of this rod 14 by inward movement of the slide l1 pivots the link 80 and the pivotalmovement of this link 80, by reason of the bearing engagement between the lower end portion of the link 80 and the roller 82, will rotate the drum 83 in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, to move the plate 96 from engagement with the contact fingers 9B.

The operator, now firmly grips thebars 49 and 54 and'pre'sses the same together, thereby to pivot the link 4'! in a direction to move the bar 28 relative to the guidebars in a direction to move the pin 89 into contact with the of the slide ll arm 90, whereby to rotate the drum 83 a distance a commensurate with the movement of the bar 28 relative to the guide bars 25.

As the drum 83 is rotated, the contact fingers 98 will successively engage the plate 96 after the spring IT has returned the slide H to its outermost position, to a position where the roller 19 will bear against the spring leaf [9 to close the switch 61. cessively engage the plate 96, the electric bulbs I02 will be successively illuminated to symbolize the rise of mercury in the thermometer and, at the same time, to indicate the gripping pressure applied to the bars 49 and 54, as measured by the digits 126.

If the operator is successful in illuminating all of the bulbs 32, when the uppermost of these bulbs is illuminated, the bell H2 will be energized and audibly announce that the operator has moved the pressure device, including the bar 28, to its maximum position.

As the drum 83 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, the bearing engagement between the roller 82 and the lower end portion of the link 80 will reset the reset bar M to its original normal position.

By providing the hinged panel Ill, replacement of the bulbs I92 may be conveniently made as and when required.

As soon as the switches 61 and 64 are closed, the area [24, symbolic of the mercury bulb of the thermometer, will be illuminated by the electric bulb H3 and this illumination will con tinue until the circuit is broken by the opening of the switch 64.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into efiect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A grip testing device comprising a panel having a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in spaced relation thereon, an electric circuit for said bulbs and means for controlling said electric circuit, said means including a plurality of contact fingers, a rotatable drum having a contact plate thereon adapted to successively engage said fingers, and hand grip pressure actuating means for rotating said drum in a direction to contact After the contact'fingers 98 suc- I the plate thereof successively with said contact fingers.

2. A grip testing device comprising a panel having a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in spaced relation thereon, an electric circuit for said gers, hand grip pressure actuating means for rotating said drum in a direction to contact the plate thereof successively with said contact fingers, and coin controlled means for rotating said drumin an opposite direction to move th plate of the drum from contact with said contact fingers.

3. A grip testing device comprising a panel having a plurality of' electric bulbs arranged in spaced relation thereon, an electric circuit for said bulbs and means for controlling said electric circuit, said means including a plurality of contact fingers, a rotatable drum having a contact plate thereon adapted to successively engage said fingers, and hand grip pressure actuating means for rotating said drum in a direction to contact the plate thereof successivelywith said contact fingers, said hand grip pressure actuating means including a pair of hand gripping bars movable relative to each other under hand gripping pressure and means for resisting movement of said bars.

4. A grip testing device comprising a panel having a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in spaced relation thereon, an electric circuit for said bulbs and means for controlling said electric circuit, said means including a plurality of contact fingers, a rotatable drum havinga contact plate thereon adapted to successively engage said fingers, hand grip pressure actuating means for rotating said drum in a direction to contact the plate thereof succesively with said contact fingers, and coin controlled means for rotating said drum in an opposite direction to move the plate of the drum from contact with said contact fingers, said hand grip pressure actuating means including a pair of hand gripping bars movable relative to each other under hand gripping pressure and means for resisting movement of said bars.

5. A grip testing apparatus comprising a cabinet having a panel the major portion of which is opaque and with the minor area thereof semitransparent, said semi-transparent area simulating a thermometer, a mounting panel to the rear of said opaque panel, a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in aligned spaced relation with respect to each other carried by said mounting panel to the rear of said semi-transparent area. an electric circuit for said bulbs, and means for successively illuminating said electric bulbs, said means including a plurality of stationary contact fingers, a rotatable plate adaptedto successively engage saidcontact fingers and grip pressure actuating means for rotating said plate in said successive engagement with said contact fingers,

6. A grip testing apparatus comprising a cabinet having a panel the major portion of which is opaque and with the minor area thereof semitransparent, said semi-transparent area simulating a thermometer, a mounting panel to the rear of said opaque panel, a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in aligned spaced relation with respect to each other carried by said mounting panel to the rear of said semi-transparent area. an electric circuit for said bulbs, means for succoin controlled means for rotating said drum in,

an opposite direction to move the plate of the drum from contact with said contact fingers.

7. A grip testing apparatus comprising a cabinet having a panel the major portion of which is opaque and with the minor area thereof semitransparent, said semi-transpar nt area simulating a thermometer, a mounting panel to the rear of said opaque panel, a plurality of electric bulbs arranged in aligned spaced relation With respect to each other carried by said mounting panel to the rear of said semi-transparent area, an electric circuit for said bulbs, and means for successively illuminating said electric bulbs, said means including a plurality of stationary contact fingers, a rotatable plate adapted to successively engage said contact fingers and hand grip pressure actuating 'means for rotating said plate in said successive engagement with said contact fingers, said hand grip pressure actuating means including a pair of hand gripping bars movable relative to each other under hand gripping pressure and means for resisting movement of said bars.

CLARE G. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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