US2845226A - Wrist type totalizer - Google Patents

Description

y 1958 H. D. CUMMINGS ETAL 2,845,226

WRIST TYPE TOTALIZER Filed April 27, 1953 INVENTOR. HA RRY D. C UMMINGS HARRY D. DOUCETT BY hex am:

United States Patent Ofifice 2,845,226 Patented July 29, 1958 WRIST TYPE T OTALIZER Harry D. Cummings, San Diego, and Harry D. Doucett, Escondido, Calif.

Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,424

1 Claim. (Cl. 235-117) The present invention relates generally to counters or adding machines, and more particularly to a wrist type totalizer.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a totalizer having a plurality of manually operated digit elements interconnected by ratchet means, so that rotation of one wheel imparts a fractional rotation to the next succeeding digit element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a totalizer having a wrist strap so that the device may be conveniently carried on the wrist, this feature making the device especially adapted for use by shoppers in grocery stores and for like purposes.

Another object of this invention is to providea totalizer having audible means so that the digit elements may be advanced as required without viewing the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrist type totalizer which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to dictates of availability and price con siderations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrist type totalizer which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a wrist type totalizer of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to operate, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the totalizer.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan-view of the device partially sectioned.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the totalizer comprises, briefly, a case having a longitudinal shaft 12 on which are rotatably mounted four digit elements 14. Each of the digit elements includes a numbered hub 16 and a rim or finger wheel 18. The finger wheels are serrated around the periphery as indicated at 20 to provide finger engaging means for rotating the digit elements.

The case 10 includes a base 22 having a pair of vertical ends 24, and a cover 26 which fits over the ends and is secured to each side of the base by means of screws 28. The cover 26 has four substantially T-shaped slots 30, the bars of the T-shaped slots providing openings through which the rims or finger wheels 18 protrude, while the stems of the T-slots serve as windows 32 through which the numerals are viewed.

The shaft 12 is supported in the ends 24, the digit elements 14 being rotatably mounted thereon and separated from the ends by means of spacers 34.

Each digit element 14 has a ratchet disc 36 secured to the hub 16, said ratchet discs having teeth 38 around the peripheries thereof, and also teeth 40 on their outer faces. The finger wheels 18 each have an arcuately shaped pawl 42 attached to the face thereof. The pawls are semiflexible and resilient and the tip 44 of each pawl is adjacent to the teeth 40 of the next successive ratchet disc 36.

Secured to the base 22 are three, pawl guides 46 having upwardly extending tapered tongues 48 which are positioned between each pair of number wheels 14 adjacent the outer faces of the finger wheels 18. As each one of the digit elements 14 is rotated, the tongue 48 adjacent thereto will be disposed between the face of the finger wheel 18 and the pawl 42. The tapered end of the tongue 48 will force the pawl outwardly from the finger wheel until the tip 44 engages one of the teeth 40 on the next digit element. Thus two digit elements will be rotated together. As the rotation continues, the pawl 42 will become disengaged from the tongue 48 of the corresponding pawl guide 46, so that the second digit element will. be rotated only fractionally by the first digit element. The actual ratio of advancement is l to 10, or in other words, each revolution of one digit element advances the next successive digit element one tenth of a revolution.

It will be seen that by inscribing the numerals l to 9 and 0 upon the periphery of each hub 16, the resultant total may be read at any time through the Windows 32.

In order to ensure that the digit elements may rotate in one direction only and to prevent accidental false adjustment of the wheels, each wheel is provided with a ratchet spring 50 engaging the teeth 38 around the periphery of the ratchet disc 36. These ratchet springs 50 are secured to a support bar 52 which is attached to or formed integrally with the base 22 at one edge thereof. It should be noted that during rotation of the digit elements, the ratchet springs 50 produce an audible click as each numeral on the hubs passes its window. Thus the device may be adjusted by counting the audible clicks, so enabling the operator to total a series of numbers without viewing the totalizer.

In order to prevent the accidental rotation of the protruding finger wheels 18 by brushing against a sleeve or the like, raised guards 54 are provided on the cover 26 adjacent to each finger wheel 18.

The totalizer is fitted with a wrist strap 56 of suitable expandible type, such as are used for watch straps, attached to a pair of brackets 58 on the cover 26. Thus the device may be worn on the wrist, leaving the hand free to perform other duties. In order to hold the totalizer securely and comfortably on the wrist, the under side of the base 22 is slightly concave longitudinally as indicated at 60 and is fitted with a resilient pad 62. Since the totalizer is elongated, this concavity to fit the wrist, in combination with the wrist strap 56, prevents the totalizer from twisting on the wrist during operation of the digit elements.

The totalizer is particularly well suited for shoppers who desire to total the price of articles being purchased, or for warehousemen counting large numbers of stored articles, to quote but two examples.

It will be evident that the numerals are normally totalled from the right or unit wheel, with automatic transfer of the count to the tens Wheel, the hundreds wheel and finally to the thousands wheel at the left of the device as illustrated in the drawing. The wheels are 3 easily returned to zero by commencing with the right hand wheel and adjusting each wheel individually.

It will be obvious that the totalizer described is not limited to four digit elements, but may be constructed with any number according to requirements.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

We claim:

A wrist type totalizer comprising a case having a plurality of parallel slots on one side thereof, a shaft longitudinally mounted in said case, a plurality of digit elements rotatably mounted on said shaft and having rims protruding through said slots for finger operation of said elements, raised guards integral with said case and slightly spaced from the corresponding slots and rims; said guards being arcuate to follow the general contour of the adjacent portions of said rims and extending radially beyond said rims, said digit elements having exposed hub portions and numerals inscribed thereon, said numerals being individually visible through said slots, and ratchet means on confronting faces of said digit elements and operatively interconnecting said digit elements for advancing each of said elements one-tenth of one revolution for each complete revolution of an adjacent wheel, said guards shielding those portions of said rims protruding through said slots and thereby preventing inadvertent advancing of said elements and allowing finger access to said rims for actuation of the digit elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 106,999 Chapin Sept. 6, 1870 286,317 Lettelier Oct. 9, 1883 517,291 Nichols Mar. 27, 1894 766,228 Dougherty Aug. 2, 1904 785,384 Steinacker et a1. Mar. 21, 1905 792,410 Gilbert June 13, 1905 975,237 Heusser Nov. 8, 1910 1,600,766 Larson Sept. 21, 1926 1,951,022 Iverson Mar. 13, 1934 2,012,023 Richardson Aug. 20, 1935 2,129,979 Westervelt et al. Sept. 13, 1938 2,167,271 Bowzer July 25, 1939 2,169,738 Moody Aug. 15, 1939 2,198,063 Seignol et a1. Apr. 23, 1940 2,492,592 Perry et a1 Dec. 27, 1949 2,494,330 Clarke Jan. 10, 1950 2,587,066 Roy Feb. 26, 1952 2,676,421 La Marr Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,940 France May 23, 1932

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