US3633818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle passenger counter apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for counting the number of passengers occupying a seat, as in a taxicab, includes a tension member having one end vertically movable with a resilient passenger supporting surface, and its other end secured, by means of a lost-motion tension connection to an element resiliently biased in the opposite direction so that the flexible tension member is in tension when the seat is unoccupied and the resiliently biased element is movable away from the seat when the seat is occupied and the tension member is relaxed, the resiliently biased member having a lost-motion connection to the input lever of a counter to move the same in one direction responsive to its biasing means, and in the opposite direction responsive to the application of tension to the tension member, and means for slowing movements of the resiliently biased member irrespective of the rate of movement of the tension member.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrell L Heath
- 👤 Larry E Van Hooser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:35
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B13/00; G07B13/02; G07B13/04; G07B13/045; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for counting successive occupants of a seat comprising a tension member relieved of tension responsive to occupancy of the seat and placed in tension responsive to vacating of the seat, a connector element, a lost-motion tension connection between said member and said element, a counter device, input means on said counter device causing one-half count per input movement in each direction, a further connection between said input means and said connector element, spring means biasing said connector element into tensile relation with said first named lost-motion connection, but being of insufficient strength to overcome tension applied to said tension element by the seat, whereby when the seat becomes occupied, said spring means moves said connector element, which causes movement of said further connection to move said counter device input means in the same direction to register one-half count on said counter device, and when the seat becomes vacated said tension element is placed in tension, causing said tension lost motion connection to become operative to move said connector element in the opposite direction, which causes movement of said device input means in the same opposite direction and thereby register another one-half count on said counter device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
Apparatus for counting successive occupants of a seat comprising a tension member relieved of tension responsive to occupancy of the seat and placed in tension responsive to vacating of the seat, a connector element, a lost-motion tension connection between said member and said element, a counter device, input means on said counter device causing one-half count per input movement in each direction, a further connection between said input means and said connector element, spring means biasing said connector element into tensile relation with said first named lost-motion connection, but being of insufficient strength to overcome tension applied to said tension element by the seat, whereby when the seat becomes occupied, said spring means moves said connector element, which causes movement of said further connection to move said counter device input means in the same direction to register one-half count on said counter device, and when the seat becomes vacated said tension element is placed in tension, causing said tension lost motion connection to become operative to move said connector element in the opposite direction, which causes movement of said device input means in the same opposite direction and thereby register another one-half count on said counter device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for slowing operation of said connector element in both directions whereby to make its movements nonresponsive to the application of tension to and removal of tension from said tension member when said seat is occupied only temporarily.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said slowing means comprises a cylinder, a piston therein, means connecting said piston to said connector element, fluid in said cylinder on both sides of said piston, and reduced diameter passage means connecting the portions of said cylinder on opposite sides of said piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said passage means contains valve means for manually regulating its size whereby to control precisely the rate of movement of said piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said further connection between said connector element and said counter device input means includes a double-acting lost-motion connection whereby only the end portions of movements of said connector element are transmitted by said further connection to said input means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said further connection is a rodlike member elongated in the same direction as that of the movement of said connector element and said connector element has a portion transverse of said rodlike member, said portion being apertured, said rodlike member passing through said aperture, said double-acting lost-motion connection comprising a pair of spaced abutments on said rodlike member on opposite sides of said transverse portion. 7 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the seat has an upwardly acting spring and said tension membeR is connected to the upper end of said spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said tension member is a cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said tension lost-motion connection comprises a portion of said connector element transverse of said tension member, an aperture in said portion, said tension member extending through said aperture and having abutment means engaging the side of said transverse portion remote from the seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a housing enclosing said connector element, said tension lost-motion connection, said counter and its input means, and said further connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said counter device has a dial and the housing is formed with an aperture in registry with said counter device dial, there being a cover for said dial aperture hinged to said housing, and means for releasably locking said cover in closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said housing includes a bottom portion and a cover portion, said dial aperture being formed in said cover portion, and separate locking means for securing said cover portion to said bottom portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said bottom portion includes a bottom wall and an upstanding transverse end wall, said end wall being apertured to permit the passage therethrough of said tension member, structure secured to said bottom wall anchoring said spring means thereto, and means supporting said counter device from said bottom wall near the end of said bottom wall remote from said end wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cover portion includes a top wall and an end wall remote from said bottom portion end wall, said dial aperture being formed in said cover portion end wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said cover portion lock is mounted in said cover portion end wall and comprises a tab rotatable in a transverse plane inwardly of said cover portion end wall, said bottom portion having a transverse surface between said tab and said cover portion end wall selectively engageable with said tab by manual actuation of said lock.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said dial aperture cover comprises a flap on said cover portion end wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |