US3921301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-06-12
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-06-12
Abstract
Abstract Projecting from the bottom edge of a hand-held casing is a 2inch circumference traversing wheel which drives three graduated number wheels: one for feet, one for inches, and one for fractions of an inch. A gear connection between the traverse wheel and fractions wheel drives the latter two revolutions for each revolution of the traverse wheel. An intermittent gear connection between traverse wheel and inch wheel advances the latter one inch-graduation with each half-turn of the traverse wheel. Another intermittent gear connection between inch wheel and foot wheel advances the latter one foot-graduation with each full revolution of the inch wheel. The inch wheel is mounted on a pivoted plate, which can be shifted to disengage the inch wheel from both the foot wheel and traverse wheel. A manually shiftable zero-return plate slidably mounted within the casing has cam surfaces that engage cam lobes on the number wheels, after the inch wheel has been disengaged, to reset the number wheels to zero. A spring connection between the zero-return plate and inchwheel support plate allows the former to shift the support plate to the disengaged position, and then further movement of the zero-return plate resets the number wheels to zero.
Inventors
- 👤 Dixon W Tuley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
407 words
A device for measuring linear distance along a surface in dimensional terms expressed in high-order, intermediate-order, and low-order increments, said device comprising: a casing; a traversing wheel journaled in said casing with a portion of its periphery projecting beyond the casing so that it can be rolled along said surface, said traversing wheel having a circumference equal to n times the intermediate-order dimensional increment; a counting mechanism comprising a low-order indicia wheel, an intermediate-order indicia wheel, and a high-order indicia wheel, said wheels being arranged side-by-side within a common plane and rotatable with respect to one another, each of said indicia wheels having dimensional graduations on the periphery thereof, said intermediate-order indicia wheel having graduations corresponding in numder to the number of intermediate-order increments that there are in each of said high-order dimensional increments, and said low-order indicia wheel having graduations corresponding in number to the number of low-order increments that there are in each of said intermediate-order dimensional increments; said low-order indicia wheel and said high-order indicia wheel being journaled for rotation on fixed axes, and said intermediate-order indicia wheel being journaled for rotation about an axis that is movable laterally with respect to said fixed axes; first means for driving said low-order indicia wheel continuously from said traversing wheel at a rate such that for each revolution of the traversing wheel, said low-order indicia wheel is turned n revolutions; second means for driving said intermediate-order indicia wheel intermittently by said traversing wheel in equal angular increments corresponding in number to the number of dimensional increments on the periphery thereof, said intermediate-order indicia wheel being advanced n increments with each revolution of the traversing wheel, and said second means being operable to immobilize said interemdiate-order indicia wheel except while it is being advanced; third means for driving said high-order indicia wheel intermittently by said intermediate-order indicia wheel in equal angular increments corresponding in number to the number of dimensional increments on the periphery of the high-order indicia wheel, said high-order indicia wheel being advanced one increment with each revolution of said intermediate-order indicia wheel, and said third means being operable to immobilize said high-order indicia wheel except while it is being advanced; and manually actuated resetting means operable first to shift said intermediate-order indicia wheel on said movable axis so as to disengage said first and second driving means, and then to engage and turn said indicia wheels so that they are all reset to zero.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
407 words
A device for measuring linear distance along a surface in dimensional terms expressed in high-order, intermediate-order, and low-order increments, said device comprising: a casing; a traversing wheel journaled in said casing with a portion of its periphery projecting beyond the casing so that it can be rolled along said surface, said traversing wheel having a circumference equal to n times the intermediate-order dimensional increment; a counting mechanism comprising a low-order indicia wheel, an intermediate-order indicia wheel, and a high-order indicia wheel, said wheels being arranged side-by-side within a common plane and rotatable with respect to one another, each of said indicia wheels having dimensional graduations on the periphery thereof, said intermediate-order indicia wheel having graduations corresponding in numder to the number of intermediate-order increments that there are in each of said high-order dimensional increments, and said low-order indicia wheel having graduations corresponding in number to the number of low-order increments that there are in each of said intermediate-order dimensional increments; said low-order indicia wheel and said high-order indicia wheel being journaled for rotation on fixed axes, and said intermediate-order indicia wheel being journaled for rotation about an axis that is movable laterally with respect to said fixed axes; first means for driving said low-order indicia wheel continuously from said traversing wheel at a rate such that for each revolution of the traversing wheel, said low-order indicia wheel is turned n revolutions; second means for driving said intermediate-order indicia wheel intermittently by said traversing wheel in equal angular increments corresponding in number to the number of dimensional increments on the periphery thereof, said intermediate-order indicia wheel being advanced n increments with each revolution of the traversing wheel, and said second means being operable to immobilize said interemdiate-order indicia wheel except while it is being advanced; third means for driving said high-order indicia wheel intermittently by said intermediate-order indicia wheel in equal angular increments corresponding in number to the number of dimensional increments on the periphery of the high-order indicia wheel, said high-order indicia wheel being advanced one increment with each revolution of said intermediate-order indicia wheel, and said third means being operable to immobilize said high-order indicia wheel except while it is being advanced; and manually actuated resetting means operable first to shift said intermediate-order indicia wheel on said movable axis so as to disengage said first and second driving means, and then to engage and turn said indicia wheels so that they are all reset to zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein n is 2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second driving means comprises n equidistantly-spaced single gear teeth on said traversing wheel, each of which is adapted to mesh with any one of a plurality of equidistantly-spaced peripheral notches on said intermediate indicia wheel to advance the latter by one of the graduations on its periphery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third driving means comprises a single gear tooth on saId intermediate-order indicia wheel, which is adapted to mesh successively with each of a plurality of equidistantly-spaced peripheral notches on said high-order indicia wheel to advance the latter by one of the graduations on its periphery each time that the intermediate-order indicia wheel completes one full revolution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second driving means comprises two single gear teeth disposed diametrically across from one another on said traversing wheel, each of said teeth being adapted to mesh with any one of a plurality of equidistantly-spaced peripheral notches on said intermediate-order indicia wheel to advance the latter by one of the graduations on its periphery when the traversing wheel has completed a half-turn; and said third driving means comprises a single gear tooth on said intermediate-order indicia wheel, which is adapted to mesh successively with each of a plurality of equidistantly-spaced peripheral notches on said high-order indicia wheel to advance the latter by one of the graduations on its periphery each time that the intermediate-order indicia wheel completes one full revolution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said intermediate-order indicia wheel is rotatably mounted on a support plate, said support plate being movable with respect to said casing from a first position wherein said intermediate-order indicia wheel is interlocked with both said high-order indicia wheel and said traversing wheel, to a second position wherein said intermediate-order indicia wheel is disengaged from both the high-order indicia wheel and said traversing wheel, thereby freeing the three indicia wheels so that they can be independently reset to zero; means for spring-loading said support plate toward said first position; and manually operable means to move said support plate to said second position against the pressure of said spring-loading means, said manually operable means engaging said three indicia wheels and resetting them to zero as it approaches said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
The device as set forth in claim 6, wherein said support plate is pivoted for swinging movement between said first and second positions; and said manually operable means to move said support plate comprises a second plate disposed above said support plate and slidable with respect to said casing, said second plate being connected to said support plate by spring means whereby said second plate is able to move said support plate from said first position to said second position and then is movable for an additional distance when said support plate has been stopped, said second plate having portions thereon engageable with cam lobes in said indicia wheels when said second plate moves through said additional distance to return the indicia wheels to zero setting after they have been disengaged.
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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |