US3542288A - Subtotalling and grandtotalling tally - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Patented lnventor William J. Uhran Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canad Appl. No. 784,595

Filed Dec. 18, 1968 1 Nov. 24, 1970 Uhran & Goertzen Manufacturing Limited Saskatoon, Sask., Canada a corporation of Saskatchewan Assignee SUBTOTALLING AND GRANDTOTALLING TALLY 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 235/144, 235/1 14 Int. Cl. G06c 15/42 [50] Field ot'Search 235/114, 80, l44Spring, 1445M.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,805 11/1949 OConnor 235/144 3,024,984 3/1962 Skurner.... 235/80 Primary ExaminerStephen J. Tomsky AttorneyCushman, Darby, & Cushman ABSTRACT: A zeroing device for use with a subtotalling and grandtotalling tally disconnects a mechanical connection between a plurality of subtotalling registers and a grandtotalling register to return all registers to zero simultaneously.

1 SUBTOTALLING AND GRANDTOTALLING TALLY and U.S'. Pat. No. 3,391 ,865, which represented an advance in the art.

The present invention is confined to improvements in the present applicant's tally which resulted when applicant attempted to put the tally into large scale production. The changes made necessary, in order to simplify and render production less expensive, were found to be outside the terms of the claims in the prior-mentioned patents, issued to the present inventor, and patentably distinguishable therefrom.

While applicants previously patented tally is fully operable and of practical utility, each of one of a series of separate and individual sub-totallers were provided with an associated manual activator. Thus, when applied in the game of golf, there would be eighteen separate activators. This means that the users had to carefully distinguish between a separate one of the said actuators and such distinction would be difficult withthe actuators in close proximity with each other, particularly if a player was wearing gloves. Further, there was always the possibility that'the'subtotals for the strokes taken on a given hole would be in error. Reference to applicant's prior patents, and indeed to all the known prior art, indicates that it has generally been necessary tog zero all subtotal counters and the grandtotal counter separately and individually at the conclusion of scoring.

The present invention envisages a single actuator for operatioh for each digit or stroke to be registered and a means for siniultaneouslyzeroing all'the subtotal registers together with thezeroing of the grandtotal. Further, it will be shown that the present' invention instantly indicates the subtotals for each previously scored group, i.e. holes, in the game of golf, and the grandtotal existing up to that instant. Again, while the device described in Canadian Pat. No. 781,302 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,865 was shown to be adaptable for manufacture entirely with plastic components, the present invention enables such adaption to be effected with considerably greater facility.

It is an object of one'feature of the invention'to provide an improved subtotalling and grandtotalling tally.

In accordance with the foregoing object the invention comprises a plurality of subtotal registers, actuator means selectively engageable with individual ones of said subtotal registers and for increasing the readings thereon by one digit for each actuation, a grandtotalling register mechanically and selectively connected to said individual ones of said subtotal register, zeroing means which during the zeroing operation disconnects said actuator from every'subtotalling register, disconnects the mechanical connection between grandtotalling register and said subtotalling registers, returns both the subtotal registers, and grandtotal register. to zero reading.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

.which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a subtotalling and grandtotalling tally shown in exploded form to expose all the essential components;

FIG. 2 is an isometric. view of the underside of the zeroing slide shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view ofthe outside of the case.

Before discussing thedrawings in detail it should be mentioned that, for simplicity, all but fragments of the associated casing has now been omitted from FIG. 1. However, it should be appreciated that the casing will include various holes for the passage of various manually operable actuators and apertures through which the respective tally registers may be viewed, and these are indicated in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, a fragment of the case is indicated at 1a in the left-hand bottom corner of FIG. 1. A single-digit manual actuator, generally indicated at 20 comprises a push rod 21 a portion of which slides, in directions indicated by arrows, in a hole 11 in the case 1. The rod 21 is terminated at its outer end by a button 22 and its inner end by a pawl engager 23. A spring 24 is disposed between the case 1 and the button 22 to urge the rod outwardly to a neutral position.

A first subtotalling layshaft is indicated at 30 and the shaft is supported for rotation in and restricted longitudinalmovement by a lower bearing, not shown, forming part of the case 1 and by an upper bearing to be discussed. At the lower end of the shaft 30 is firmly fixed a ratchet wheel 31 engageable and rotatable by the pawl 23. Rotation of the shaft is restricted, to that shown by the accompanying arrow, by a detent 32 attached to the case 1.

A pinion 33 is rigidly attached to the shaft 30. The major portion of the shaft30 is of square cross section to slidably receive a pinion 34 whose position along the shaft 30 is set by a subtotalling setting index l60-shown on FIG. 3. The setting index includes a U-shaped saddle portion, not shown, which straddles the teeth on the pinion 34 permitting longitudinal movement of the latter.

There are two columns of nine subtotalling registers one only of each column being indicated at 40a and 40b. It will be observed that the registers 40a in the left-hand column are provided with teeth 42 which are adjacent the lower end of the registers, while the registers 40b are provided with teeth 44 which are adjacent the upper end of the registers 40b. The registers 40a and 4011 are carried by a pair of shafts, a portion of the right-hand shaft being shown at 48b. The shaft 48b is also used to carry a pair of transfer gears 60, 62. Gear 60 meshes selectively with gear 33. Thus, gear 34 can only engage either the registers 40a or the registers 40b, and such selection is determined by the longitudinal position of gear 34 on the shaft 30. All the registers 40a and 4012 are provided with zeroing torsion springs 46 which have free ends suitably restrained against rotation in a manner to be described. The opposite ends of the springs are fastened to the registers as by a pin 49 .shown on a fragment of one of the registers 40b. All the registers 40a, 40b are restrained against longitudinal movement along the respective shafts 48 by suitable means, not shown, attached to the case. A subtotal zeroing slide, generally indicated at 50, is disposed behind the subtotalling registers 40a 40b and the shaft 30. The slide 50 is free to slide vertically through a selected distance and includes a detent pawl 52 for each of the subtotalling registers 40a, 40b. Alike the teeth 42, 44, thepawls 52 are vertically staggered. Integral with the upper end of the slide 50, is a cam block 54 which includes a cam slot 56 and a bearing 58 supporting the shaft 30. Thus, downward movement of the slide 50 is intended, firstly, to disengage gear 33 from gear 62, secondly to disengage gear 34 from any of the registers 40a, 40b, and thirdly to disengage every pawl 52 from its associated registers 40a, 40b,Referring to the last mentioned function, upon disengagement of the pawls 52 from the registers 40a, 40b, each of latter will return to its zero position under the influence of its respective spring 46. In order to perfect zeroing of the registers 40a,'40b, convenient use is made of the spring pins 49 each of which is permitted to abut an associated stop 51 formed integral with the case. As previously discussed, the torsion springs 46 have free ends which are suitably restrained against rotation. Those springs in the left-hand column of wheels 40a are individually restrained by anchor blocks 47 integral with the case. The corresponding springs in the right-hand column of registers 40b are restrained by reception in a series of associated holes 53 in the slide 50. It has been found that nine such springs, associated 'with the right-hand column of wheels 40b, are sufficient to urge the plate 50 downwardly to a neutral position when the action of the cam block 54 is removed.

Gear 62 meshes permanently with an intermediate or idler gear 64 which in turn selectively meshes a gear 70 rigidly affixed to a grandtotalling shaft 72. The shaft 72 is of square cross section and is journaled for rotation about and restrictive movement along its longitudinal axis by bearings, one of which is indicated at 74, formed integral with the case. Gears grandtotalling register 76, having a cylindrical surface thereon, is provided with a continuous helical slot 78 and a series of numbers -99 and 00 l engraved thereon. In order to make the numbers as large and legible as possible the hundreds digit is omitted for all numbers above 99. The register 76 is downwardly urged by a spring 80 disposed between the register and a collar 82 fastened to the shaft 72. 'A pair of caliper members 84 are fastened to the bearing 74 by screws 86 and nuts, not shown. The upper ends of the members 84 are terminated with arcuate tabs 88 which are resiliently urged into engagement with diametrically-opposite portions of the helix 78.

The upper end of the shaft is terminated by a zeroing sector I plate 90 rigidly attached to the shaft. A caliper spreader plate 92 is mounted for vertical sliding in the case and includes a pair of curved portions 94 which engage, and during downward movement ofthe plate 92, urges apart the ends 88 of the calipers 84. At the top of the plate 92 is rigidly mounted a block 96 having an inclined slot 98 therein.

With reference to FIG. 2, a zeroing slide, generally indicated at 100, is disposed above all the previous discussed structure. The slidevincludes an aperture 102 which receives a subtotal zeroing pin 104 which engages the inclined slot 56. A further aperture 106 rigidly receives a grandtotal zeroing pin 108 which slides in the slot 98. v

The slide 100 is slotted at 110 to receive the upper end of the shaft 72 and at 112 to provide space for a zeroing spring 114. One end of the spring 114 is fastened to .the slide 110 by a ipiri l16-and the otherend of the same spring is fastened to a pin. 118 on the zeroing plate 90. The slide 100 05 mounted in the-case for movement in-the directions of the arrows shown aloiigside the slide. The slide 100 is urged to the right by a spring 120 disposed between the slide and the case. The slide 100 includes a digit engaging protrusion 122 which is of limited accessibility from the outside of the case in order to prevent inadvertent zeroing.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the case 1 is seen to include windows 150 for each of the first nine holes scored in the game of golf. Similarly, windows 152 are for holes 9 to 18. Window 154 provides the grand total from the register 76. it will be seen from the illustration, that the sum of the subtotals is 103,

'but with the omission of the hundreds digits, the number 03" is presented. As previously stated a particular hole on the subtotal registers is selected by setting index 160. This index has 'an arrow 162 for use with the left-hand column.(holes 1 to 9) and arrow 164 for the right-hand column (holes to 18). .T he vertical spacing between the arrows 162 and 164 was discussed with reference to the teeth on registers 40a and 40b. As shown in FIG. 3, index 160 is set for the eighteenth hole.

Theoperation ofthe device will now be described with particular but not exclusive reference to the game of golf.

Assuming that all registers read zero, the user firstly sets the subtotal register to be used. That is, arrow 162 on index setter 160 will be set opposite "I" in the lefthand column. Each time a stroke is played the actuator 22 is depressed, and for each actuation the gear 34 will rotate and the l register will be advanced one digit. Simultaneously, gears 33, 62, 64 and 70 will advance the grandtotal register 76 by one digit for each stroke. Thereaftenfor the second hole arrow 162 will be set opposite 2 and so on through to the eighteenth hole. When all holes have been scored, the score for each hole will be exhibited, together with the grand total.

The zeroing of the registers will now be described with particular reference to FIG.' 1. Firstly, the index 160 (FIG. 3) is moved to a zeroing position disposed at the extreme uppermost position of its vertical travel wherein gear 34 is neither engaged with teeth 42 or 44 on registers 40a and 40b respectively. When the zeroing slide 100 is then moved to the left the following simultaneous functions are performed: (a) spring 120 is compressed, (b) the tension in zeroing spring 114 is ininfluence of springs 46, (g) the slide 92 moves downwardly to v spread caliper- 84 apart, (h) the grandtotal register 76 drops to its lowest position under the influence of spring 80, (i) the register 76-and its supporting shaft 72 are rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1, by the zeroing spring 114. After zeroing, the

slide is released whereupon it will move to the right in FIG. 1 'reestablishing re-meshing throughout in readiness for further scoring.

It is envisaged that the invention may be applied to any system of subtotalling and grandtotalling and may have application other than with sports or games. Further, various changes in structure falling within the terms of the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

l. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally, comprising:

i. a plurality of subtotal registers;

ii. actuator means selectively engageable with individual ones of said subtotal registers and for increasing the readings thereon by one digit for each actuator;

iii. a grandtotalling register mechanically and selectively connected to said individual ones of said subtotal register; and

iv. zeroing means which during the zeroing operation;

a. disconnects said actuator from every subtotalling register;

b. disconnects the mechanical connection between grandtotalling register and-said subtotalling registers;

. and

c. returns both the subtotal registers, and grandtotal register for zero reading.

2. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 1 further including spring means on all registers urging the same towards the zero reading positions thereof and selectively disengageable detents associated with all said subtotal registers to store the readings thereon until zeroing is effected.

3. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuator means includes a shaft having a driving member thereon which is selectively movable into engagement with any selected one of said subtotal registers.

4. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 2 wherein said detents form part of a common slide member which, during the operation of zeroing, moves every detent out of engagement with the subtotal register associated therewith.

5. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 1 wherein said grandtotalling register comprises a rotatable cylinder having an arithmetic progression of numbers thereon arranged in succession along a continuous helix.

6. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 5 wherein said cylinder includes a helical slot on the surface thereof, selectively disengageable means cooperating with said slot effecting movement of said cylinder along the axis of generation thereof upon rotation of the cylinder.

7. A subtotalling and grandtotalling tally as defined in claim 6 wherein the said zeroing means for the grandtotalling register comprises first resilient means urging movement along said axis of rotation and second resilient means urging rotation of said cylinder.

8. A subtotalling and grandtotalling register as defined in claim 7 wherein each subtotalling register includes gear teeth thereon, wherein said actuator means includes a sliding gear for selective engagement with individual ones of said subtotalling registers.

' 9. A subtotalling and grandtotalling register as defined in claim 8 wherein said grandtotalling register is slidably received on a shaft fitted with a gear and wherein said gear forms part of a selectively disengageable gear train connected with said actuator means.

stepwise an'd unidirectionally, in response to successive movements of a digitaloperator which engages the teeth on said rachet wheel.

13. A subtotalling and grandtotalling register as defined in claim 10 wherein the subtotal registers are supported for rotation on two subtotal shafts, and wherein said actuator means is selectively engageable with subtotal registers on either of said two shafts.

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