US1114945A - Game-indicator. - Google Patents

Description

R, H. F. VAR-IEL, JR. GAME INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1912. v 1,1 14,945. Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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scribed, shown in the drawing, and. finally ROBERT H. F. VARIEL, JR., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

GAME-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed-June 12, 1912. Serial No. 703,237.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. F. VARIEL, 1 Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game-Indi'cators, of which the following is a specif fication.

This invention relates togame indicators whereby the stages of progress of games between contestants may be indicated.

The invention relates particularly to in- .1 dicat'ors for denoting the progress of games and successive games of lawn tennis.

The invention has for its object to proi vide improvements in game indicators of the nature stated which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensivel ness of construction and organization, clearness and fullness of indication, facility and convenience in installation and manipulation, positiveness and accuracy in operation and compactness in form; and which will be generally superior in efiiciency and serviceability.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter depointed out in claim.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front face view of a lawn tennis game indicator constructed and organized in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken upon the line ufi-w, Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 00 w Fig. 1, and lookin in the direction of the appended arrows; the showing being given a quarter turn upon the sheet.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the draw- I ing, the game indicator therein shown com- I prises, with relation to its organization for I the purpose of indicating the progress of a lawn tennis game, or a series of such games and sets thereof, point indicating means A, I game indicating means B, set indicating means C, and name indicating means D;

all of these means being mounted in or upon and accommodated by a casing E. The game indicating means and the set indi'cat-- ing means are structurally combined, with respect to the working features thereof, producing compactness of form of parts.

In a preferred form of construction and organization, as shown in the drawing, the casing E comprises a front member 4: and a rear member 5, each of which consists of a rectangular plate, with a greater width than height, such plates being spaced apart at their edge portions by strips 6 through which and the plates are passed holding means 7 such as pins or screws, whereby the plates are detachably connected, inclosing, together with the strips 6, an interior chamber 8 Within which are mounted and chambered a plurality of rotative flat circular disks 9, l0, l1 and 12, of which the disks 9 and 12 are included in the game indicating means B, and the disks 10 and 11 are included in the point indicating means. Each of said disks is loosely mounted upon a and economy short shaft 13 which is journaled at its ends in the front and rear plates 4 and 5. The ends of the shafts 13 of the disks 9 and 12 are projected beyond the plates and carry at their forward ends fixed pointers, 14: and 15, included respectively within two set indicating means C; and carrying at their rearward ends finger pieces or hand wheels 16 and 17 included respectively in the two set indicating means C. Each'of the disks 9 and 12 is provided upon its forward face, or upon both faces if preferred, with anannular marginal series of game indicating symbols or figures 18 and 19; and each of the disks 10 and 11 is provided upon its forward face, or upon both faces if desired, at the marginal portions thereof, with an annular series of point indicating figures or symbols 20 and 21. These figures or symbols are arranged to be displayed through notches 22, 23, 21 and 25 cut into the top portions of both plates 4 and 5, at the edges thereof, in vertical planes cutting the respective shafts 13, and substantially sectorshaped, being of proper dimensions to display the symbols 18 to 21 as the disks 9 to 12 are rotated. Underneath each of the.

notches 22 and 25, the word Games is displayed upon the front plate 4; and under each of the notches 23 and 21 the word Points is displayed.

In order to utilize plates 4 and 5 of minimum width, the disks 9 to 12 overlap within the chamber 8 in the casing A. The intermediate shafts 13 may be fixed in the plates 1 and 5 if preferred, but the outer shafts. 13 must be loose in said plates so that the pointers 14 and 15 may be manipulated by the hand wheels 16 and 17,. so that said pointers may be moved to read in connection with set indicating figures or symbols 26, 27 and 28 for the pointer 14, and 29, 30 and 31 for the pointer 15. These symbols are displayed upon the plate 4, in segmental series, respectively beneath the outer shafts 13. Beneath each of said series of last named symbols the word Sets is displayed upon the front plate 4.

A vertical dividing line 32 is produced uponthe front plate,,4, centrally thereof, dividing the face of such late into two portions each of which is a apted for the indication of points, games and sets, by reason of the organization above set forth; and at each side of said central line 32 is provided the name indicating means D, comprising detachable cards, 33 and 34 respectively, held in recesses 35 by overhanging marginal flanges or stop strips 36 which are omitted at one end of each of the chambers to permit of ready insertion and withdrawal of the name cards.

The shafts 13 and their disks are readily assembled in connection with the detachable plates 4 and 5, and the pointers and hand wheels are added to the respective shafts. The dividing line 32 subdivides the front plate into two main portions each of which is provided with one of the point indicating means, one of the game indicating means, one of the set indicating means and one of the name indicating means. It is manifest that if desired all of such indicating means may be so formed as to display upon the rear plate 4 the data as to progress of the game which is displayed upon the front plate; but in usual practice the display is made only in part upon the rear plate. Where the indicator is operated from behind the rear plate, with duplication of the indicating data upon the rear plate, in registration with the data upon the front plate, indication upon the front plate may be conveniently made by reference on the part of the operator merely to the showing on the rear plate.

In displaying the points scored by either player, the disk 10 or 11 is operated manually at the slot 2-3 or 24 to display the proper symbol 20 or 21 through such slot. To indi cate the number of games tallied by each player, the disk 9 or 12 is similarly manipulated to display the proper symbol 18 or 19 in the proper slot. To indicate the num ber of sets won by either player the proper pointer 14 or 15 is manipulated by the proper hand wheel 16 or' 17 to indicate the proper symbol 26 to 31. The proper name card 33 or 34 is inserted in the proper recess 3.5, and these cards may be duplicated produced and provided in miniature at each side of the dividing line 32, where doubles are being played. Mounting the 66 disks 9 and 12 respectively with the same centers as the pointers 14 and 15, produces compactness of arrangement of parts and economy of material.

Oustomarily, the indicator is properly 70 suspended .at the front of a scoreboard, with the dividing line 32 in registration with the net. The several parts and members and indicating symbols and readings are of sufficient size to be clearly visible by spectators and by those. conductin the contest; and the use of the indicator 0 viates the necessity of vocally announcing the points as made by either contestant, together with the difliculty in accurately hearing such announcements.

At all stages of the contest the indicator displays clearly the exact relative standings of the contestants, such continued indication, with respect to contestants, points, games,

and sets being impossible by vocal means of announcement. All of the advantages of Visible over audible means of indication are produced in the use of the invention.

It is manifest that the indicator ma be for individual use by spectators, and may be conveniently carried in the pocket.

The indicator is susceptible of many variations of construction and arrangement of parts and features without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent:

A game counter of the character described including spaced plates having corresponding finger and display notches in the-edges thereof, one of said plates being/provided with symbols-upon its outer facefshafts ex tending through the plates and journaled therein, disks loose upon the shafts and having the edge portions thereof projecting into the respective finger and display notches so as to be readily engaged by the finger for rotating the same, said disks being provided with marginal series of characters adapted to be successively displayed through the finger and display notches as the disks are rotated, pointers rigid with the shafts on one end thereof, and means upon the opposite ends of the shafts for turning the same so that they will cooperate with the before mentioned symbols upon one of the plates.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT H. F. VARIEL, JR. Witnesses:

C. P. WARDEN, RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE.

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