US3756088A

US3756088A - Odometer reset mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3756088A
Application number: US00243562A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Inoue
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-13
Filing date: 1972-04-13
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

A pinion attached to a shaft of an odometer engages the upper teeth of a double segment pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing while the lower teeth of the segment engage teeth provided in a horizontally slidable rod. The segment tends to rotate clockwise by the action of a spring. By fully pushing the rod inwardly, the segment rotates against the action of the spring whereby the pinion makes one complete rotation so as to bring similar figure on the several wheels in alignment.

Description

United States Patent 1 Inoue 1 Sept. 4, 1973 ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM [76] Inventor: Shir-o Inoue, 26, 2-chome,

Kashiwaza, Ageo, Japan [22] Filed: Apr. 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 243,562

[52] US. Cl 74/89.17, 74/89.18, 74/89.l9 [51] Int. Cl. F16h 29/02 [58] Field of Search 74/109, 89.18, 89.17,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,582 2/1958 Reitherman 74/109 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 74/89.l8

Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker AttorneyCharles E. Temko 5 7 ABSTRACT A pinion attached to a shaft of an odometer engages the upper teeth of a double segment pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing while the lower teeth of the segment engage teeth provided in a horizontally slidable rod. The segment tends to rotate clockwise by the action of a spring. By fully pushing the rod inwardly, the segment rotates against the action of the spring whereby the pinion makes one complete rotation so as to bring similar figure on the several wheels in alignment.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM This invention relates to a reset mechanism of an odometer such as is usually associated with the speedometer of a motor vehicle.

It has been known tO reset the odometer by manipulating a reset stem so as to rotate the shaft of the odometer on which a number of figure wheels are loosely mounted, but such an operation is tedious and has the defect of over-rotation.

This invention has for its object the avoidance of the above defect. This invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a speedometer of a motor vehicle showing in detail the odometer reset mechanism and,

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but the reset mechanism is in another position.

Referring by reference characters to the drawings, numeral I is a casing of a speedometer, 2 is a conventional speedometer needle, 3 is a trip odometer, 5 is a total odometer and 22 is a flexible shaft for driving the magnetic operating mechanism of the speedometer as well as

odometers

3 and 5.

At one side of the casing 1, a double segment 6 is mounted on a pivot 25. The upper teeth 6 of said segment 6 engage a pinion 4 fixed to one end of the shaft of the odometer 3 while the lower teeth 6" engage with teeth 8 provided in a rod 9. The rod 9 is supported by

bearings

23 and 24 and is horizontally slidable. A knob is fixed to the outer end of said rod.

The segment 6 has the tendency to rotate clockwise by the action of a spring 7.

To reset the odometer, the rod 9 is pushed by the knob 10 inward as shown by an arrow F (FIG. 1) whereby the segment 6 rotates counter-clockwise until it hits a stop 26 (FIG. 2). The gear ratio between the segment and pinion is so chosen that the pinion 4 together with the shaft of the odometer can make one complete rotation by the action of the segent whereby all the figure wheels mounted on the shaft are picked up one after another from whatever position they occupy in the course of a single complete rotation of the shaft and when all are engaged, similar figures on the several wheels are in alignment. These details are not shown, being old and well known.

After resetting, set free the knob 10, then all the parts return to the initial position as shown in FIG. 1 by the action of the spring 7.

As is clear from the above, the simply pushing the knob 10 inwardly, odometer can be reset quickly and without over-rotation.

What I claim:

1. A reset mechanism for use with a trip odometer having a shaft supporting indicia-bearing wheels, in which rotation of said shaft in a given direction through a complete revolution serves to reset said trip odometer to a predetermined value comprising: a pinion coaxially mounted on said shaft, a fixed pivot means, a first gear segment carried by said pivot means and selectively meshing with said pinion, said segment being of arcuate length sufficient to rotate said shaft through a single complete revolution, a second gear segment carried by said pivot means and connected for movement with said first gear segment, a slidably mounted operating rod having a rack thereon meshing with said second gear segment, said rod having a manually engagable free end, and resilient means urging said first and second gear segments tO inoperative position relative to said pinion, axial movement manually imparted to said rod serving to engage said first gear segment with said pinion and to rotate said odometer shaft through one revolution to reset the same to said predetermined value.