Lap counter for toy vehicles

Claim 2

Apparatus for counting toy vehicles comprising: a housing including means for receiving a toy vehicle track; a lever pivotally mounted on said housing for pivoting from a first position in the path of vehicles moving along said track toward a second position normally clear of said vehicles; a spring coupled to said lever to bias it toward said first position; first and second ratchet wheels rotatably mounted on said housing; first and second number wheels connected to said first and second ratchet wheels, respectively, for displaying the digit and the tens multiple digit of a count, respectively; first and second pawls mounted for operation by said lever for advancing said first and second ratchet wheels respectively, said first pawl and said first ratchet wheel holding said second pawl away from said second ratchet wheel except for when said first number wheel is at the digit 9.

Claim 3

The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein: said first and second pawls are connected to move together, and wherein said first ratchet wheel includes lands between adjacent ones of the teeth thereof, and a recess disposed between two of said teeth.

Claim 4

Apparatus for counting comprising: actuating means including first and second pawl means mounted for movement in first and second direction, said actuating means positioned to receive forces upon an occurrence to be recorded that moves it in said first direction; means for biasing said actuating means in said second direction; and first and second ratchet wheels advanced during movement of said actuating means in said second direction by said first and second pawl means, respectively, for recording a count, said first pawl means and said first ratchet wheel holding said second pawl means away from said second ratchet wheel except at a predetermined position of said first ratchet wheel.

Claim 5

Apparatus for counting comprising: actuating means including first and second pawl means mounted for movement in first and second direction, said actuating means positioned to receive forces upon an occurrence to be recorded that moves it in said first direction; means for biasing said actuating means in said second direction; and first and second ratchet wheels advanced during movement of said actuating means in said second direction by said first and second pawl means, respectively, for recording a count, said first pawl means and said first ratchet wheel holding said second pawl means away from said second ratchet wheel except at a predetermined position of said first ratchet wheel.

Claim 6

Apparatus for counting a moving item, comprising: means for recording counts including first and second Number wheels, said first wheel indicating individual counts and said second wheel indicating tens of counts; ratchet wheel means including first and second ratchet wheels coupled to said first and second number wheels, respectively; a lever mounted for pivoting in a first direction by forces from said item; spring means for biasing said lever in a second direction opposite to said first direction; first and second pawls coupled to said lever for engaging and advancing said first and second ratchet wheels, respectively, during movement of said lever in said second direction; and means on said first ratchet wheel for preventing engagement of said second pawl with said second ratchet wheel except at a predetermoned rotational position of said first ratchet wheel.

Claim 7

Apparatus for counting a moving item, comprising: means for recording counts including first and second Number wheels, said first wheel indicating individual counts and said second wheel indicating tens of counts; ratchet wheel means including first and second ratchet wheels coupled to said first and second number wheels, respectively; a lever mounted for pivoting in a first direction by forces from said item; spring means for biasing said lever in a second direction opposite to said first direction; first and second pawls coupled to said lever for engaging and advancing said first and second ratchet wheels, respectively, during movement of said lever in said second direction; and means on said first ratchet wheel for preventing engagement of said second pawl with said second ratchet wheel except at a predetermoned rotational position of said first ratchet wheel.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 4 including: retainer means biased toward engagement with said ratchet wheel means to prevent advancement of said wheel means in a direction to increase the count of said means for recording counts; and means coupled to said lever for holding said retainer means away from engagement with said ratchet wheel means during a first portion of the movement of said lever in said second direction towards return to its original position.

Claim 9

Apparatus for counting, comprising: first and second means for displaying digits of a count; first and second ratchet wheel means coupled to said first and second means for displaying digits, respectively; actuating means including a lever mounted for pivoting in a first direction by an item to be counted and spring means for pivoting said lever in an opposite second direction; and first and second pawl means oriented for advancing said ratchet wheel means during movement of said lever in said second direction, said first pawl means and said first ratchet wheel means holding said second pawl means away from said second ratchet wheel means except at a predetermined position of said first ratchet wheel means.

Claim 10

Apparatus for counting, comprising: first and second means for displaying digits of a count; first and second ratchet wheel means coupled to said first and second means for displaying digits, respectively; actuating means including a lever mounted for pivoting in a first direction by an item to be counted and spring means for pivoting said lever in an opposite second direction; and first and second pawl means oriented for advancing said ratchet wheel means during movement of said lever in said second direction, said first pawl means and said first ratchet wheel means holding said second pawl means away from said second ratchet wheel means except at a predetermined position of said first ratchet wheel means.

Claim 11

Apparatus for counting toy vehicles comprising: a housing including means for receiving a toy vehicle track; a lever pivotally mounted on said housing for pivoting from a first position in the path of vehicle along said track toward a second position normally clear of said vehicles; a spring coupled to said lever to bias it toward said first position; a first ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said housing; a number wheel connected to said ratchet wheel to display a count; a second ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said housing; a second number wheel connected to said second ratchet wheel to display a digit of a count; a first pawl connected to said lever and biased to a position adjacent to said first ratchet wheel, said first pawl oriented to engage a tooth on said first ratchet wheel and move it during pivoting of said lever from said second position to said first position and to ride over a tooth on said first ratchet wheel during pivoting of said lever from said first position towards said second position; a second pawl coupled to said lever for advancing said second ratchet wheel; and means responsive to the angular position of said first ratchet wheel for engaging and disengaging said second pawl from said second ratchet wheel.

Claim 12

Apparatus for counting toy vehicles comprising: a housing including means for receiving a toy vehicle track; a lever pivotally mounted on said housing for pivoting from a first position in the path of vehicle along said track toward a second position normally clear of said vehicles; a spring coupled to said lever to bias it toward said first position; a first ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said housing; a number wheel connected to said ratchet wheel to display a count; a second ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said housing; a second number wheel connected to said second ratchet wheel to display a digit of a count; a first pawl connected to said lever and biased to a position adjacent to said first ratchet wheel, said first pawl oriented to engage a tooth on said first ratchet wheel and move it during pivoting of said lever from said second position to said first position and to ride over a tooth on said first ratchet wheel during pivoting of said lever from said first position towards said second position; a second pawl coupled to said lever for advancing said second ratchet wheel; and means responsive to the angular position of said first ratchet wheel for engaging and disengaging said second pawl from said second ratchet wheel.

Claim 13

The apparatus described in claim 7 wherein: said means for engaging and disengaging said second pawl comprises means for holding said first and second pawls together in movement toward and away from said second ratchet wheel, and a recess between only predetermined ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel for permitting a large movement of said first pawl toward said first ratchet wheel to enable said second pawl to engage a tooth on said second ratchet wheel.

Claim 14

The apparatus described in claim 7 including: a forward retainer spring biased toward engagement with said first ratchet wheel to prevent forward rotation; and retainer engaging means on said lever for deflecting said foRward retainer away from engagement with said first ratchet wheel at a lever position between said first and second lever positions.

Claim 15

A toy vehicle counter comprising: a base; holding means on said base for holding a toy vehicle guiding track to guide a toy vehicle over said base; a counter and means holding said counter above said base and over a track thereon; a counter actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent said counter for swinging in the direction of movement of a vehicle on said track and extending downwardly into the path of movement of a toy vehicle moving along said track; and means for actuating said counter in response to pivotal movement of said lever to thereby register the passage of a toy vehicle therepast.

Claim 16

A toy vehicle counter comprising: a base; holding means on said base for holding a toy vehicle guiding track to guide a toy vehicle over said base; a counter and means holding said counter above said base and over a track thereon; a counter actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent said counter for swinging in the direction of movement of a vehicle on said track and extending downwardly into the path of movement of a toy vehicle moving along said track; and means for actuating said counter in response to pivotal movement of said lever to thereby register the passage of a toy vehicle therepast.

Claim 17

A toy vehicle counter as defined in claim 10 including spring means urging said lever to said downwardly extending position.

Claim 18

A toy vehicle counter as defined in claim 10 wherein said holding means comprises means for frictionally releasably holding a track section on said base.

Claim 19

A toy vehicle counter as defined in claim 10 wherein said means holding said counter above said base comprises a pair of spaced upstanding members on said base, said holding means being arranged to hold said track to extend between said members; a housing supported over said base by said members, said counter being positioned in said housing.

Claim 20

A toy vehicle counter as defined in claim 13 wherein said lever is pivoted to said housing and extends downwardly between said members.

Claim 21

A toy vehicle counter comprising: a base; holding means on said base for holding a toy vehicle guiding track to guide a toy vehicle over said base; a counter and means holding said counter above said base and over a track thereon; a counter actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent said counter for swinging in the direction of movement of a vehicle on said track and extending downwardly into the path of movement of a toy vehicle moving along said track; and means for actuating said counter in response to pivotal movement of said lever to thereby register the passage of a toy vehicle therepast; said counter having at least one rotatable wheel bearing sequential numbers thereon and a manually accessible peripheral portion, and manually actuable release means for releasing said wheel for manual presetting thereof by engagement with said peripheral portion.

Claim 22

A toy vehicle counter comprising: a base; holding means on said base for holding a toy vehicle guiding track to guide a toy vehicle over said base; a counter and means holding said counter above said base and over a track thereon; a counter actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent said counter for swinging in the direction of movement of a vehicle on said track and extending downwardly into the path of movement of a toy vehicle moving along said track; and means for actuating said counter in response to pivotal movement of said lever to thereby register the passage of a toy vehicle therepast; said counter having at least one rotatable wheel bearing sequential numbers thereon and a manually accessible peripheral portion, and manually actuable release means for releasing said wheel for manual presetting thereof by engagement with said peripheral portion.

Claim 23

A toy vehicle counter as defined in claim 15 including a housing in which said counter is positioned; said peripheral portion and said release means extending to the exterior of said housing.