Compact Toy Lap Counter

Abstract

A device for use with a toy track layout to count the number of laps traversed by a toy vehicle, comprising a track section with a slot and a pivotally mounted lever which extends through the slot so it can be pivoted down by a vehicle moving along the track. The lever operates an escapement that allows a number wheel to advance to display a new lap count. A single-coil spring is used to move the number wheel and to urge the lever to a position where it projects from the track.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to counting mechanisms, and more particularly, to apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles along a track.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An entertaining accessory for toy track vehicles is a counter for counting the number of laps traversed by a vehicle. Such a counter is preferably constructed so that the vehicle is not blocked from view as it passes by the counter, to enable a child to keep the vehicle in sight. It is also desirable to construct the counter in as simple a manner as possible so it can be produced and sold at low cost.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a counter for toy vehicles which is attractive appearance, and which is completely open to enable the vehicle to be seen as it passes by the counter.

Another object is to provide a simple and economical counter for toy vehicles.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a counter is provided which includes a track section with a slot in it and a pivotally mounted trip lever which projects from the slot. A rotatably mounted wheel with numbers on it, which can be seen through a window, advances every time a vehicle contacts the trip lever, the trip lever operating an escapement which allows the wheel to advance. A single-coil spring is used to advance the number wheel and pivot the lever towards a position in the path of toy vehicles, the spring having one end coupled to the wheel and the other end coupled to the lever.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularlity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual counter constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A are views taken on the lines 5--4 and 5A--5A of FIG. 3, respectively, during escapement of the number wheel;

FIGS. 6 and 6A are views similar to FIGS. 5 and 5A, respectively during winding of the number wheel;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view showing the right side of the dual counting mechanism of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of a portion of the number wheel of the counter of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a dual track lap counter 10 which has two counter mechanisms 12, 14 for counting the passes of vehicles moving along each of two tracks 16, 18. Each side of the apparatus includes a housing 20, 22 and a separate track section 24, 26 is attached to each housing for connecting in series with a track 16, 18. Each track section has a slot 28, 30 and a trip lever 32, 34 which projects upwardly from the slot. Each time a toy vehicle passes across a track section, such as section 24, it moves down the trip lever 32 on that section, which causes the advancement of a number wheel 36 which is rotatably mounted on the housing. Each number wheel has numbers on it which are displayed through a window 38, 40 in the housing to indicate the number of vehicle passes. In the case of a closed loop track layout, each counting mechanism can indicate the number of laps traversed by a toy vehicle. Two vehicles can be raced on the two tracks 16, 18 in a race that covers many laps around the layout, such as 20 laps, and the counting mechanism keeps track of the laps traversed by each vehicle.

The left and right counting mechanisms 12, 14 are substantially identical mirror images of each other, so that a description of one mechanism 12 largely applies to the other. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the number wheel 36 has 20 numbers on it which can be displayed through the window 38. Prior to a race, the wheel may be in a position to display a number of laps previously traversed in in a race, and it must be turned in a direction opposite to arrow 42 until the number "0" is displayed through the window. Rotation of the number wheel 36 winds a spring 44 which will later advance the wheel in the direction of arrow 42 each time the trip lever is pivoted by a passing vehicle. The trip lever 32 operates an escapement 46 that allows the spring to advance the number wheel by one-twentieth turn every time the lever is pivoted down. The fact that the lever does not move the number wheel, but only operates an escapement that allows a spring to move the wheel, allows the lever to be pivoted with a minimum force by the vehicle, so that it slows the vehicle by a minimum amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, the number wheel 36 is fixed to a shaft 48 whose lower end is rotatably mounted in a bearing 50 of the housing. The other end of the shaft is pivotally mounted on another bearing 52 of the housing. The wheel has 20 ratchet members 54 spaced along a region near the circumference of the wheel. These ratchet members interact with pawl members on the lever 32 to advance the wheel in steps The coil spring 44 is disposed about an upper portion 56 of the shaft bearing, and has a lower end portion which rests against a ledge 58 of the shaft bearing. A first end 60 of the spring is engaged with a boss 62 fixed to the underside of the number wheel, and a second end 64 of the spring is engaged with a spring holding portion 66 on the lever. The spring holding portion 66 on the lever remains substantially in the same location, moving only slightly as the lever pivots. However, the other end 60 which is engaged with the wheel moves around the axis of the wheel as the wheel turns. The number wheel winds the spring as the wheel is turned prior to a race, and the spring drives the wheel in the opposite direction every time a car hits the lever 32 during a race.

The lever 32 has a pair of trunnions 68, 70 which are pivotally mounted in bearing holes formed in the housing. The lever has a vehicle-engaging end 72 which projects into the the of toy vehicles, and an inner portion which is box shaped, as shown in FIG. 3. The inner portion has one side 74 with a pawl 76 extending upwardly therefrom and another side 78 with another pawl 80 extending upwardly therefrom, the pawls positioned to engage the ratchets on the number wheel 36. When the trip lever 32 is in its usual position, wherein the vehicle-engaging end 72 is biased upward in the path of vehicle the pawl 76 is engaged with a ratchet while the other pawl 80 is disengaged. When the vehicle-engaging end 72 of the lever is moved down by a vehicle, causing pivoting of the lever, the pawl 76 disengages from a ratchet while the other pawl 80 engages a ratchet. This alternate engagement of the pawls allows the number wheel to be turned in steps by the spring 44.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first or control pawl member 76 is normally engaged with a ratchet of the number wheel to prevent the number wheel from rotating in a direction in which it is urged by the spring 44. When the vehicle-engaging end 72 is moved down to the position 72A, the first pawl member 76 is moved down so it disengages from the ratchets to allow the wheel to turn. However, the wheel cannot turn more than about one-half of a step (each step is one-twentieth of a turn) because the second pawl 80 moves to the position 80A, wherein it holds the wheel against movement past about one-half step. However, when the lever springs back to its original position, the second pawl 80 moves down again to release the wheel so it rotates about another half-turn and the control pawl 76 moves into engagement with the next ratchet. Thus, the pawls operate as an escapement mechanism.

The apparatus is constructed so that the number wheel 36 can be wound in the direction opposite to arrow 42 by merely applying winding torque to it without the necessity of operating additional levers or the like to disengage the pawls from the ratchets on the wheel. Such winding is enabled by the construction of the ratchets, as illustrated in FIG. 8 which shows them in an upside-down orientation. Each ratchet has a first side 82 which is formed at a very steep angle such as 10.degree. from the vertical, i.e., from a line parallel to the axis of the wheel, and a second side 84 which is formed at a greater angle from the wheel axis, such as 25.degree.. The ratchets are wider at their radially outer ends than at their inner ends, and are angled somewhat away from a radial direction, to better accommodate the pawls.

FIGS. 5 and 5A illustrate the situation during unwinding of the spring, at the rest position, i.e., when the trip lever 32 is raised above the track surface. In this rest position, the spring force which tends to move the wheel in the unwinding direction of arrow 88 (see FIG. 5A) causes the control pawl 76 to lock in an upward position. This is because an imaginary line 77 normal to the pawl surface where it contacts the ratchet surface 84, passes above the axis of pivoting of the trip lever at 70 (see FIG. 4). When the trip lever is moved down by a vehicle, the opposite pawl 80 is moved up to position 80A of FIG. 5. In this position 80A, ratchet surface 84 contacts the pawl 80, under the force of the spring which urges the wheel in the direction of arrow 86. An imaginary line 81 normal to the pawl surface passes blow the axis of pivoting of the trip lever, to move the pawl down. This plus the force of spring 44 on the trip lever moves the pawl 80 down again, and the other pawl 76 then enters into the next space between the ratchets.

FIGS. 6 and 6A illustrate the situation during winding of the spring, when the wheel is manually pushed in the direction of arrows 90 and 92. The direction of force applied by ratchet surfaces 82 to pawls 76 and 80 urges the pawls to pivot the trip lever down. Thus, the same pawls which prevent unwinding of the wheel until the trip lever is pushed by a vehicle, allow winding of the wheel without requiring a child to move the trip lever by hand or operate any special mechanism that moves the pawls out of the way of the number wheel. Typically, during winding of the number wheel by one full turn (from "20" to "0") 20 checks can be heard, representing the 20 times the pawl 76 is moved down by the ratchet surfaces 82.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 illustrate the right side mechanism 14 which is constructed in a manner almost identical to the left side mechanism described above, except that some of the components are mirror images of similar components in the left-hand mechanism. Thus, the trip lever 34 of the right-hand mechanism has pawls 100, 102 corresponding to the pawls 76, 80 on the left-hand lever 32. The same springs can be used for both mechanisms, and the same number wheels can be used for both mechanisms when there are an even number of teeth, or ratchets on a wheel. Both mechanisms operate in substantially the same manner.

The counting apparatus is typically used in a race between two vehicles which travel over two different track layouts. Prior to the race, both number wheels are turned until the number "0" can be seen through the windows 38, 40. Both vehicles are then started at the same time and they both repeatedly traverse their respective track layouts until one of the vehicles has completed the race. Completion of the race by a vehicle is indicated by its number wheel showing a predetermined number of laps which previously have been agreed upon as the distance of the race.

ACcordingly, the invention provides a dual lap counter of extreme simplicity and attractive appearance. Each counter includes an open track section which allows a child to see the vehicles at all times, and a lever which projects from a slot in the track. It would be possible for the vehicle-engaging end of the trip lever to extend from the side of the track. However, the toy vehicles vary substantially in width, but not as much in the height of the bottom of the chassis above the roadway, so a lever that extends upwardly travels a more uniform distance when struck by a variety of toy vehicles. The number wheel and lever are both operated by the same coil spring by attaching one end of the spring to the wheel and the other end to the lever. The wheel and trip lever are constructed so that the pawls of the trip lever automatically allow rotation of the number wheel during winding while serving as an escapement during lap counting. Therefore, only three separate moving parts are employed for each counter, these being the trip lever, the spring, and the number wheel. The spring is an ordinary low cost, coil spring, although a rubber band or other resilient member can also be used as a spring. The trip lever and number wheel each can be made in a single injection molding. Thus, the entire apparatus can be produced at very low cost.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising:

a frame;

a track section mounted on said frame;

an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a plurality of successive steps to display a plurality of successive numbers;

a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having a portion normally situated in the path of vehicles moving along said track and means for releasing said indicating member each time said lever is pivoted; and

a spring having a first portion coupled to said lever for urging said lever toward a position in the path of vehicles moving along said track section, and a second portion coupled to said indicating member for urging it in a direction to display a next successive number.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said indicating member comprises a wheel rotatably mounted on said frame about a predetermined axis of rotation, said wheel having a rim portion projecting from said frame to enable hand turning in a first direction to wind said spring, and said wheel having a plurality of ratchets thereon;

said means on said lever for releasing said indicating member comprises a pair of pawls on said lever, a first of said pawls positioned to engage and disengage said ratchets when said lever is in the path of vehicles and is moved to a position out of said path, respectively a second of said pawls positioned to engage and disengage said ratchets when said lever is out of said path and in said path respectively; and

said first pawl having a first surface which is angled to lock against a surface of said ratchets when said wheel is being urged to rotate by said resilient member, and a second surface which is angled to pivot out of engagement with said ratchets when said wheel is being urged to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is urged by said spring.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said track section has a slot formed therein beneath the path of vehicles moving therealong; and

situated in the path of vehicles extends through said slot.

4. Apparatus for counting the passes of toy vehicles comprising:

a frame;

a track section mounted on said frame, said track section having a slot beneath the path of vehicles moving thereon;

an indicating member mounted on said frame for movement in a plurality of successive steps to indicate vehicle passes; and

a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, said lever having a vehicle-engaging portion extending through said slot for downward movement by a vehicle passing along said track section, and means for advancing said indicating member each time said lever is pivoted by a vehicle.

5. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein:

said indicating member comprises a wheel having a plurality of ratchets thereon, said wheel rotatably mounted on said frame; and

said lever comprises a pair of pawls for alternately engaging said ratchets; and including

a coil spring disposed about the axis of rotation of said wheel and having opposite ends coupled to said wheel and said lever, respectively.

6. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said wheel has a downwardly extending shaft portion;

said frame includes a bearing portion which has a hole for receiving said shaft portion to pivotally support it, and a circular outside portion; and

a plurality of the coils of said spring extend around said circular outside portion of said bearing.

7. The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein:

said ratchets and pawls each have opposite sides sloped to prevent movement of said pawls by said ratchets when said wheel is urged by said spring, and sloped to cause movement of said pawls by said ratchets when said wheel is turned in a direction opposite to the direction in which said spring urges said wheel.