US2561498A - Golf scorer - Google Patents

Description

G. A. CLARKE July 24, 1951 GOLF SCORER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 16, 1947 FIG- FIG. 2

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INVENTOR. G- A. CLARKE ATTORNEY July 24, 1951 Filed Sept. 16, 1947 G. A. CLARKE GOLF SCORER FIG. 5

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JNVENTOR.

G. A. CLARKE ATTORNEY atentecl .uly 24, lQS

GOLF sooRER George A. Clarke, Middletown, Conn., assignor of one-half to Edwin L. MoseleyHouston, Tex.

Application September 16, 1947, Serial No. 774,352

4 claims. (C1. 23a-117) This invention relates to sporting equipment, and more particularly to a golf scorer for enabling a player to keepy an accurate record.

Golf scores ordinarily are kept on a scorecard, upon which they are written by one or more of the participants of the game. Conventional Scorecards usually have spaces only for the recordation of the strokes of the players on each hole and for the total number of the strokes taken by each participant in the game.

In order to make the game more interesting the players frequently agree to contest the game from several angles. They play skins or the fewest number of strokes per hole; they have a Nassau or the fewest strokes on the first nine holes, in the second nine holes, and on the total o fboth nines. They, likewise, play points between two teams in the foursome. It is, therefore, desirable to keep an accurate and complete record of all of the above, which is readily comprehendable at any and all times.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an attractive, simple, unique, scorer, of small size; for use in the game of golf, by means of which a player can keep his individual score on each hole and the total of all strokes taken, the member of the foursome having the lowest score on each hole, i. e., winner of the skin, and the points won or lost in the high and low ball or other contest between two teams in a. foursome.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an isometric illustrating one application of the invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view on an enlarged scale, with the cover removed;

Fig. 3, a section further enlarged on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a similar view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a similarview on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6, an isometric of an individual color selector;

Fig. 7, an isometric of a pair of cooperating counters; and

Fig. 8, a side elevation of one of the detents.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a device corresponding in size to a standard size package of cigarettes. The top of the device contains a pair of central windows and two rows of side openings. Also, each side of the device contains a longitudinal window or slot. The lefthand central window is twice the width of the righthand central window and has a pair of cylinders beneath the same, each numbered from zero' to nine, and which constitute a totalizer for the number of strokes employed by a player in the game. V Beneath the smaller or single window is a single cylinder numbered from zero to nine for' indicating the number of strokes on a particular hole. These cylinders are operated by a circular, knurled, operating member similar to that of a watch stem, located exteriorly of the end of the device. When the cylinders are set at zero the knurled operating head is adapted to be operated to move the members one by one to properly show the score of the player on each hole, and his total score on the holes played.

The two rows of the windows or openings in the top of the device expose nine drums in each row, each drum having a knurled operating portion andan adjacent portion of white, and four colored portions such as, for example, yellow, red, green and blue.v Since there are eighteen of these it is only necessary to turn one of them for each hole of the color representing any particular playenand thus the winner of preceding holes can be determined at any time. .A The slots in the side of the device vexpose smaller4 drums similar to those last described, but withrnumerals from zero to three on each for recording the points won on the respective holes, there being nine pairs of these drums exposed through each of the slots.

With continued reference to the drawings, the device of the present invention comprises a cover having a relatively fiat central or intermediate top portion I0 and depending side portions II and I 2. .The device is also provided with end covers I3 and I4 and with a Ibottom I5. The intermediate flat portion I0 of the cover is provided with a rectangular window I6 and a substantially square window Il, and with a series of nine apertures I8 at one side of the mid portion of the top Land a corresponding series of apertures I9 at the opposite edge of the top. Likewise the sides II and I2 are provided with sight apertures 20. Spaced openings 2| are disposed along the lower edges of the sides II and I2. The `cover is slightly larger than a small matchbox rso that it` can be conveniently carried. y The rectangular Window I6 exposes a pair of numerals 22 and 23 in side by side relation, the pair forming part of a series on a pair of cylinders 24 and r25 which have their adjacent ends in closely abutting relation.` The windowv I1 like- 3 wise exposes one of a series of numerals 26 located on the surface of a cylinder 21. The numerals last described are employed for keeping a record of the total number of strokes a player has on a single hole, while the numerals exposed through the window I6 keep a total of strokes on the holes played. The cylinder 21 is adapted to be rotated by means of a knurled operating knob or head 28 which is joined by a reduced neck 29 with the end wall 30 of the cylinder 21. The neck 29 is journalled within a transverse supporting member 3|. A shaft 32 extends longitudinally from the frame member 3l into a corresponding frame member 33 at the opposite end of the device, being secured in the frame member 33 by means or a pin 34. The shaft 32 forms the axis about which the cylinders 24 25 and 21 and the neck 29 of the cylinder 21 rotate upon operation of the knob 29. The cylinder 21 has an end wall 35 similar to the end wall 30, providing a twopoint mounting for the cylinder on the shaft 32. the cylinder being hollow. The cylinders 24 and 21, are hollow, while the cylinder 25 is of substantially solid construction, and these cylinders are sequentially operated by manipulation of the knob 28, the cylinders 21, 25 and 24 being operated in the order named. The operation of the knob 28, due to its direct connection, directly operates the cylinder 21. Likewise the cylinder 25 is caused to operate with cylinder 21 due to the action of ratchet teeth 36 on the cylinder 21 directly engaging ratchet teeth 31 on the cylinder 25, the several cylinders being freely rotatable on the shaft 32. The ratchet teeth 36 and 31 are urged into engagement by means of a spring 38, housed within the cylinder 21 bearing against and confined between a disc 39 engaging a pin 40 in the shaft 32 and a disc 4I bearing against the end wall 35 of the cylinder. There are ten numerals and ten ratchet teeth, consequently when movement is produced equivalent to one ratchet tooth one numeral is viewed through the sight opening I1; thereby with the cylinder set so that the numeral zero is visible at the beginning of a hole, the cylinder is rotated to bring the numerals successively into view until the hole being played is iinished, whereupon the cylinder is reversely rotated to bring the zero back into position to be viewed through the sight opening.

Reverse rotation of the cylinder 21 causes the cylinder to `move away from the adjacent cylinder 25 against the action of the sprlng 88 so that the ratchet teeth 36 ride upon the ratchet teeth 31. The cylinder 21 is provided with a pin or stop 42 for engagement with a pin or stop '43 carried in the frame 3i so that the cylinder will be in starting position with the zero exposed through the sight opening when the cylinder is reversely rotated. It will be noted that the cylinder 21 may be rotated forwardly by means of a knob 28 past the zero to provide for more than ten strokes as the pins 42 and 43 will pass each other. However, when reversing the rotation of said cylinder 21 by means of the knob A28, the cylinder 21 will then stop at zero due to the inclination of the ratchet teeth 36 and 31 which will project said cylinder 21 away from cylinder 25 bringing the pins 42 and 43 into contact with each other, thereby halting the rotation thereof. The spring 38 will always bring said ratchet teeth 36 and 31 into operational engagement with each other so that the strokes taken on the following hole may then be tabulated. Also, in order 4to hold the cylinder 25 in `proper position against fri'ctional movement, this cylinder is 4 provided with spaced depressions 44 which are engaged by a detent in the form ci' a ball I5 under the action of a spring 46, the tension on which is subject to the action of a set screw 50. The ball and spring are housed in a bearing block 41 having a projecting bearing portion 48 which fits into an annular groove or slot 49 and serves not only as a support for the cylinder, but to prevent axial movement thereof.

The cylinder 24 is adapted to be rotated one step for each revolution of the cylinder 25, or for one numeral on the cylinder 24 to be exposed for every ten that have been exposed on the cylinder 25, and in order to accomplish this purpose the cylinder 25 is provided with a chamber 5I in one end of which is located a pin 52 immediately beneath the numeral 9 on the cylinder. The pin 52 is adapted to be engaged by one of the ten pins 53 when properly actuated. 'I'he pins 53 are normally held out of engagement with the pin 52 by means of coil springs 54 which `bear against the right of left and right supporting vwalls 55 .and 56 of the cylinder 24, and also against collars 51 xed on the pins 53. In order to project the pins 53 axially into the chamber 5I an operating arm 59 is secured to the frame 33.

lt will be readily seen that by forward rotation of the knurled operating knob 28 the cylinder 21 will be likewise rotated by means of the neck por tion 29. This rotation willcause numerals 26 `to appear one at a time or sequentially in the right hand opening I1 or the central or intermediate portion IU. This motion actuates the cylinder 25 by means of the ratchet teeth 36 and 31, which will then rotate with the aforementioned cylinder 21 thereby Vcausing numerals 23 to appear inthe opening I6 of the central or intermediate portion Upon rotation of the knurled knob 28 inthe opposite direction, `the 'cylinder 25 `will remain stationary due to the holding action of the bali detent 45 and its component parts. The numeral zero of the cylinder '21 will then appear in the opening I1 and the cylinder will stop on that portion because ofthe coaction of pins 42 and 43.

With the cylinder 24 set .at zero and the cylinder 25 rotated forwardly, after the numeral nine appears thereon, the pin 52 in the cylinder 25 Iwill then engage the spring loaded detent 53 hi the cylinder '24 and rotate the same onenumeral, bringinginto view the number ten within 'the opening I6. The 'two sets of numerals appearing in the opening I6 total the entire number of strokes taken or used by `a player' in his hole by hole playing of the game, the numeral appearing in the opening I1indi'c'ating the number of strokes used for one particular hole orplay.

Disposed on the sides of the central cylinders and in the same axial plane, there are provided a series of 18 drums 59 disposed nine on each side. The drums 59 are ymounted 'on shafts `Bil'. said shafts having bearing portionsset in the frames 3| and 33. Each` drum 59 is provided with a raised knurled 'annulus or flange 6l for rotation of the drum. The drums 59 are ,also provided with spaced depressions 62 similar t0 the aforementioned depressions 44. The depressions 62 will be engaged by a ball detent 63 urged into position by spring 64, the tension of said spring being adjusted by a set screw 65. rBhe balls 63, springs 64 and screws 65 are housed in a base member 66 disposed directly beneath'the drums 59.

The drums 59are also provided with a vbami of colors '61 preferably 'four colors and white, for

example, redgbluegfgreenand yellow, as indicated barbs aerentienaldinings-.bea Shaw-ain. Fie. 2- By rotation -of an individualy knurled annulus'v 6l any desiredcolor lmay be brough'tfinto position to be viewedthroughthe `openings I8 "and I9 in the intermediate memberxy l? Usually-,inn the game, when being .played byY z'aefoursome, each player' willrr'eceive a color andzas' each h'ole .is wcn byl an'individual player,.hisf. color' vwill be exposedlthrough the openings I-fiand 1l 9-in the intermediate portion l0, indicatingfthe player that won the hole. `By merelyoglancing at the .device when thegar'ne is completed, thefplayer or players can` easily-tell whowon the -gameland how. many holes were won by each player.

Disposed along the sides Il and l2 of the device within the cover portion are a plurality of sets of smaller drums 68. These drums are mounted on transverse vertical axes and are provided Iwith raised and notched flanges or annular portions 69 for easy rotation thereof. The drums 68 are mounted in pairs or in sets of two, the raised annular portions 69 being disposed at the uppermost and lowermost portions of each set. The smaller drums 68 .are mounted on individual shafts journalled in the upper and lower supporting members 1I and 12, said members forming a component part of the frame of the device.

The notched annular portion 69 of the drums 68 are provided with a series of five spaced depressions 13 upon their flat surfaces 14. Said depressions are adapted to be engaged by a ball detent 15 urged into contact with the depressions 13 by spring 16, the adjustment of which is determined by a set screw 11. The balls 15, springs 16 and set screws 11 are contained in the members 1| and 12.

The cuter surface of the smaller drums 68 are provided with numerals 1S, there being four numerals numbering from zero to three, spaced apart equally around the outer periphery of said drums. When the notched portions 69 are rotated the numerals will be visible, in any desired order, through the openings 29 in the side walls Il and l2. These are to be used in keeping a record of team points, such as high and low ball.

The bottom member l5 can be easily detached by means of the fastening members 19, the member l5 being removable for the purpose of making adjustments in the tension of springs 46, 64 and 16 by means of adjusting screws 50, 65, and 11.

To attain an even more perfect and ilawless operation, adjustable braking means may be provided on the cylinder 24, to prevent said cylinder from rotation which may occur by reason of the proximity of cylinder 25. Rotation of cylinder 24 is desired only when one of the spring urged detents 53 contained therein, momentarily contacts iixed pin 52 in the cylinder 25.

Accordingly, a brake shoe 80 of cork or a similar material is provided, for constant frictional contact with the cylinder 24. Said brake shoe 80, is spring urged into position against said cylinder 24, by expansion spring 8l, adjustably held in position by set screw 82.

The complete braking unit just described is contained in block 83 and is as readily accessible for adjustment as are the aforementioned adjusting means 50, 65 and 11, by removal of the bottom member l5.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited ,by thatwhich is showny in the drawings and ,described in the specification but only as indicatedin `the appended claims.

.,Whatisclaimedis: :1. A; gol f, .scorer'comprising acasing having an .intermediate j top vportion and depending sidel portions, a pair-,of windows centrally located on saidtop portion, a-pluraglity of numberedcyl-f indersmounted coaxially below ,said zwindows,

rows, one row located adjacent each of said,- Sidc portions, .a ,plurality Lof.; player indicating drums mounted coaxially below each of said rows with one of said drums below each of said apertures, an elongated aperture extending along each of said side portions, and a set having a plurality of numbered indicating drums mounted on a vertical axis adjacent each of said player indicating drums and visible through one of said elongated apertures; whereby said scorer may be used to indicate one players score for one hole, his total score at any time, the player winning each hole and the corresponding team points for each hole.

2. A golf scorer as set out in claim 1 wherein a frame is provided for mounting said cylinders and drums, said player indicating drums are each provided with spaced peripheral depressions. said frame is provided with spring urged detents engaging one of said depressions on each of said player indicating drums, said numbered indicating drums are arranged in pairs with peripheral flanges at opposite ends of adjacent drums and the opposite end surfaces are provided with radially arranged depressions, and said frame is provided with spring urged detents engaging one of the depressions in each of said end surfaces.

3. A golf scorer as set out in claim 1 wherein said cylinders are rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft, said one cylinder is rotated by a knurled knob at one end and is provided with ratchet teeth at the other end, a rst of said other cylinders is provided with ratchet teeth at one end. engaging said ratchet teeth on said one cylinder and a projecting pin on the other end, said first cylinder being provided with peripheral depressions, a spring urged detent engaging one of said depressions, a second of said other cylinders being provided with radially arranged elongated pins extending longitudinally therethrough and resiliently urged away from said rst cylinder, means engaging one of said elongated pins and projecting one end into position for engagement by said projecting pin, and an adjustable braking element resiliently urged against said second cylinder to prevent frictional movement thereof by said first drum but permitting movement by engagement of said pins.

4. A recorder comprising a casing having a. top and sides, said top being provided with a longitudinally extending row of windows along each edge thereof and a pair of windows arranged in a longitudinally extending row centrally thereof, a plurality of numbered cylinders mounted coaxially below said pair of windows, means for rotating one of said cylinders to indicate digits and rotating other of said cylinders for indicating the total of the digits, a plurality of indicating drums mounted coaxially on longitudinally extending axes below each of said 7 longitudinally extending rows of windows at eaoh edge, knurled flanges on each of said indicating drums to rotate each drum separately from any other drum, said casing being provided. Vwith windows on each longitudinal side edge thereof, a second series of drums mounted within said casing for rotation about vertical axes with the periphery oi each drum being exposed through said longitudinal side edge Windows, and means to rotate each of said drums in said second series o! drums independently of any other of said drums, the drums of said second series of drums being positioned between said knurled flanges, whereby said recorder may occupy a minimum of GEORGE A. CLARKE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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