UnitedStates Patent [191
`Biro
`
`[54] PEDOMETER TOY
`[76] Inventor: Carl B. Biro, 126 Linn Ave.,
`Yonkers, NY. 10705
`May 21, 1973
`[22] Filed:
`[2]] Appl. No.: 362,265
`
`[52] US. Cl. .............................................. .. 235/105
`[51] Int. Cl ........................................... .. G010. 22/00
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 235/105
`
`[56]
`
`694,652
`1,684,928
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`3/1902 Kuhn ................................ .. 235/105
`9/1928 Simpson ........................ .. 233/105 x
`
`3,818,194
`[11]
`[45] June 18, 1974
`
`Primary Etaminer—-Lawrence R. Franklin
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-—.lohn W. Melville; Albert E.
`Strasser; Stanley H. Foster
`
`ABSTRACT
`[5 7]
`A pedometer toy comprising a support for means for
`indicating the number of feet and fractions of a mile
`traversed together with the drive mechanism for the
`indicator means. The drive mechanism comprises a
`pendulum, a ratchet wheel and pawl and a gear train.
`The support, and its associated indicator means and
`drive mechanism are enclosed in a case af?xable to
`the wearer’s body. Finally, means are provided to set
`the indicator means to any desired reading.
`
`12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
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`PATENTED JUN 18 I974
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`SHEET 1 I]? 2
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`3818394
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`W58
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`43 xé
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`1
`PEDOMETER TOY ,
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`3,818,194
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`2
`FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the miles indicator
`dial.
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`5
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`15
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The invention relates to a pedometer toy, and more
`particularly to-a pedometer capable of indicating with
`reasonable accuracy the number of feet ‘and the frac
`tions of a mile traversed, while at the same time being
`simple in design and inexpensive to manufacture.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Prior art workers have heretofore devised various
`‘types of pedometers, but for many years very little
`work has been done to further develop such instru
`ments. The prior art pedometers have generally been
`characterized by complex and expensive spring-driven
`mechanisms. Frequently such pedometers were diffi
`cult to read and difficult to reset. For the most part, the
`prior art pedometers were intended to be accurate in-'
`struments for adult use and were not intended for use
`20
`as a child’s toy.
`,
`The present invention is directed to a pedometer toy
`for use by children. The structure is unique ‘in that it
`avoids all use of springs which are expensive and unreli
`able in toy-grade mechanisms. As a result, the pedome
`ter toy lends itself well to low-cost mass production. In
`stead of springs, gravitational and frictional forces are
`used by means of a pedulum-driven mechanism.
`The pendulum-driven ‘mechanism is simple in con
`struction, sturdy and capable of withstanding handling
`and use by children, while at the same time yielding:
`reasonable accuracy. Finally, the pedometer toy of the
`present invention is readily readable and resettable to
`zero or any other desired setting.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`In all of the Figures, like parts have been given like
`index numerals. Turning ?rst to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the
`pedometer case is generally indicated at 1. While the
`shape of the case does not constitute a limitation on the
`present invention, the exemplary embodiment is illus
`trated as being circular and comprising a rear wall 2
`and an annular side wall 3.
`The manner in which the pedometer is af?xable to
`the wearer’s body does notconstitutea limitation on
`the present invention. For purposes of an exemplary
`showing, at the top of the pedometer case, the annular
`side wall 3 is shown as having a hollow cylindrical stem
`4. The hollow stem 4 is adapted to receive the shank 5
`of a rectangular ring-like structure 6. The ring 6 and
`stem 5 are rotatable in the hollow stem 4. The shank 5
`is captively held in the stem 4 by an enlarged portion
`7 on the ring-like structure and an enlarged or upset
`end 8 on the shank.
`The pedometer is removably affixable to a portion of
`the user’s clothing (such as his belt) by an attachment
`means 9 comprising an elongated resilient member
`having a hook-like con?guration 10 at its lower end en
`gaging the ring-like structure 6. At its upper end, the
`attachment means 9 has another hook-like con?gura
`tion 11 for engagement of the user’s belt or the like.
`Thus, the pedometer case 1 is not only rotatably sup
`ported by the shank 5 of the ring-like structure 6, but
`also the ring-like structure 6 is swingable in the lower
`hook 10 of the attachment means 9.
`As is most clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the for
`wardmost end of case side wall 3 has formed therein a
`pair of annular shoulders 12 and 13. A disc-like support
`plate 14 (to be described hereinafter) is located on the
`shoulder 12. The case is completed by a crystal 15 of
`clear plastic or the like. The crystal 15 has a forward
`face 16 and an annular side wall orv?ange 17, the end
`of which rests upon the annular shoulder 13 of the case
`1. The crystal may be so sized as to have a snap engage
`ment with the case 1 or it may be permanently affixed
`thereto by glue or the like. It will be noted that the crys
`tal is of such thickness as to partially overlap the pe
`ripheral edge of the support plate 14, holding the sup
`port plate in place.
`While the material from which the pedometer case is
`made does not constitute a limitation on the present in
`vention, it'will be readily understood that all of the
`structure thus far'described; including the case, the
`ring-like structure and attachment means, the support
`plate and the crystal may be easily and inexpensively
`molded of plastic or the like;
`The disc-like support plate 14 has a forward face or
`surface 14a and a rearward face or surface 14b. The
`support plate has a first opening therein generally indi
`cated at 18. The opening 18 has an elongated narrow
`portion 18a with an enlarged upper portion 18b and an
`enlarged lower portion 180. On either side of the en
`larged upper portion 18b of opening 18 the rearward
`surface 14b of the support plate has a pair of integral,
`rearwardly extending lugs 19 and 20. The lugs 19 and
`20 support the ends of a shaft 21 extending across and
`rearwardly of the enlarged portion 18b of opening 18.
`
`SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION v
`The pedometer toy comprises a support plate
`mounted in a case. The case is closed by a crystal which
`exposes to the view of the user one or more distance in
`dicator means mounted on the support plate.
`While, as will be explained hereinafter, the distance
`indicator means‘may be designed to give various read
`ings, the exemplary embodiment'described hereinafter
`is provided with a first indicator- means giving a reading
`in feet and a second indicator means giving a reading
`in fractions of a mile.
`The indicator means are driven by a gear train
`mounted on the support plate. The gear train, in turn,
`is advanced in appropriate increments by a pendulum
`carrying a pawl cooperating with a ratchet wheel.
`Finally, suitable means are provided to affix the pe
`dometer toy to the user’s body. In the exemplary em
`bodiment to be described, the case is provided with a
`hook-like element which may be engaged upon an ap
`propriate part of the user’s clothing such as his belt.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the pedometer
`toy of the'present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the support plate
`and the drive mechanism of the pedometer toy.
`FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the support plate
`and drive mechanism taken along the section line 3—3
`of FIG. 2 and including the case in cross section.
`FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the support plate
`and drive mechanism (as seen from the left-in FIG. 2) '
`and includes a cross sectional view of the case.
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`As is most clearly shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 4, a pendu
`lum 22 is provided comprising an elongated shank 22a
`surmounted by an'integral disc-like portion22b and
`provided at its bottom end with a weight 22c. The disc
`like portion is pivotally mounted on shaft 21. Adjacent
`the disc-like portion of the pendulum a ratchet wheel
`23 and a pinion 24 are also rotatively mounted on the
`shaft 21. The ratchet wheel 23 and the pinion 24 are
`intended to rotate together and may constitute an inte
`gral, one-piecestructure. A pawl 25, adapted to coop
`erate with ratchet wheel 23, is pivotally affixed to the
`disc-like portion 22b of the pendulum by a pin 26.
`From the structure thus far described, itiwill be un
`derstood that the enlarged upper portion 18b, of the
`opening 18 in the support plate is adapted to accommo
`date the disc-like portion 22b of the pendulum, as well
`as the ratchet wheel 23, pinion 24 and pawl 25. The
`elongated portion 18a of the opening 18 accommo
`dates the shank 22a. of the pendulum, while the lower
`enlarged portion 18c of the opening 18 accommodates
`the pendulum weight 220.
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`The pendulumis swingable on the shaft 21 and, as
`will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 4, the forward swing
`of the pendulum through the opening'18 in the support
`‘ plate will be limited by an integral strap 27 formed on
`the forward face 14a of the support plate 14. The strap
`27 spans the elongated portion 18a of the opening 18
`and acts as a forward abutment for the shank portion
`22a of the pendulum. The rearward limit of swing of
`30
`the pendulum is determined by abutment of the weight
`220 of the pendulum and the inside surface of the case
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`wall 2.
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`40
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`the reset knob 38 extends through a central perforation
`39 in‘ the crystal 15.
`.
`Non-rotatively affixed to the rear end of shaft 35 is
`a spur gear 40 and a pinion 41. The spur gear 40 and
`pinion 41 may again comprise an integral one-piece
`structure. The teethv of spur gear 40 are intended to
`mesh with the teeth of pinion 32.
`‘
`I
`From FIG. 2 it will be evident that the incremental
`clockwise motion of crown gear 31 and pinion 32 will
`cause an incremental rotation of spur gear 40 and pin
`ion_4l in a counterclockwise direction. Since the spur
`gear 40 and pinion 41 are non-rotatively affixed to
`shaft 35, their rotation will be imparted to the shaft 35
`and the hand 37. As viewed in FIG._1, the hand 37 will
`rotate in a clockwise direction. ‘As is further shown“ in
`vFIG. 1, the forward face 16 of the ‘crystal 15 has
`thereon indicia, graduatedin feet, from 0 to 500. Asis
`well known in the art, the size and number of teeth of
`the ratchet wheel 23 and the remaining gear train thus
`far described will be so ‘chosen as tocause the hand 37
`to give a reasonably accurate reading of the feet tra
`versed. Since the pedometer of the present invention is
`particularly adapted for use as a child’s toy, the gear
`train may be so selected as to give an accurate reading
`on the basis of the average stride length of a child
`within a'given age group. _
`.
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`Returning to FIG. 3, the rear surface 14b of the sup
`port plate 14 has an integral, rearwardly extending
`shaft 42 thereon. Rotatively mounted on the'shaft 42
`is a spur gear or “miles wheel” 43. The free end of shaft
`42 may. be upset to assure that the spur gear 43 will re
`main in place. The teeth of spur gear 43 are intended
`to mesh with those of pinion 41 so that (as seen in FIG.
`2) incremental rotation of spur gear 40 and pinion 41
`will impart incremental rotation of spur gear 43 in a
`clockwise direction.
`The forward surface of spur gear or miles wheel 43
`may have a “miles dial” affixed thereto. This is illus
`tratedin FIG. 5. The miles dial 44 is affixed to the spur
`gear 43‘ by any suitable means such as gluing or the like.
`It will be noted that the miles dial is graduated intenths
`of a mile from 0 miles to one-half mile. '
`'
`As is shown in FIG. 1, the support plate 14 has an
`opening 45 therein through which a portion of the
`miles dial may be viewed. In order to ‘facilitate the read
`ing, the opening 45 may be so configured as to have in
`dicator-points 46 and 47. It will be understood that the
`miles wheel or spur gear 43 will be so chosen as to have
`an appropriate diameter and number of teeth to give a
`reasonably accurate miles reading.
`.
`Finally, the support plate 14 may have an additional
`opening 48 through which a portion of the gear train
`may be viewed.
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`The operation of the pedometer toy of the present
`invention is as follows. The user affixes the pedometer
`toy to an appropriate portion of his clothing, such as his
`belt, by attachment means 9. With each stride, the mo
`tion of the user’s body will cause the pendulum 22 to
`swing. The swinging motion of the pendulum will,
`through the agency of ratchet wheel'23, pawl 25 and
`pinion 24 impart an incremental rotational movement
`to crown gear 31 and pinion 32. Pinion 32, in turn, will
`drive spur gear 40, resulting in clockwise rotation of
`hand 37 (as viewed in 31). The hand 37 will give a rea
`sonably accurate reading of the number of feet tra
`versed by the user from 0 to 500 feet. For every com- "
`plete revolution of hand 37, the spur gear 47 and its as
`
`The purpose of ratchet wheel 23 and pawl 25 is to
`translate the swinging motion of pendulum 22 into in
`cremental rotational movement. Thus,'as the pendulum
`swings forwardly, i.e., to the left in FIG. 4, the pawl 25
`will slide over the teeth of ratchet wheel 23. Upon rear
`ward movement of the pendulum (i.e., to the right in
`FIG. 4) the pawl will engage the teeth of the ratchet
`wheel and impart to it an increment of counterclock
`wise rotation (as viewed' in FIG. 4). As indicated above,
`the pinion 24 will rotate with the ratchet wheel 23.
`Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the integral
`lug 20 on the rear face of support plate 14'has a perfo
`ration 28 therein. The perforation 28 is adapted to re
`ceive the splined end 29a of a shaft 29 with a force fit.
`The rear wall 2 of the case 1 may have a relief or de
`pression 30 therein to assure proper clearance for the
`headed end 29b of shaft 29.
`Rotatively mounted on shaft 29 is a crown gear 31
`and pinion 32. The crown gear 31 and pinion 32 are in
`tended to rotate together and may comprise an inte
`gral, one-piece structure. The teeth of the crown gear
`mesh with the teeth of pinion 24 so that the incremen
`tal rotation of ratchet wheel 23 and pinion 24 will cause
`incremental rotation of the crown gear 31 and pinion
`32 in a clockwise direction, as seen in. FIG. 2.
`The support plate 14 has a centrally located boss 33 '
`extending rearwardly of its rear surface 14b and for
`wardly of its forward surface 14a. The boss 33 has an
`axial perforation 34. Rotatively mounted in the perfo
`ration 34 is a shaft 35. The forward end of shaft 35 is
`splined and has a force fit relationship with a perfora
`tion 36 in a molded element comprising an indicator
`hand 37. The molded element may also include a reset
`knob 38 (to be described hereinafter). When included‘,
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`3,818,194
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`sociated miles dial will make approximately one-?fth
`revolution.
`At the outset, the user would generally prefer the
`hand 37 and miles dial 44 to both have a zero reading.
`This could be accomplished simply by shaking the in
`strument, causing the pendulum to swing, until both in
`dicators read zero. However, such a procedure is both
`time consuming and annoying. As a consequence, the
`resetting of the indicator means to zero may be rapidly
`and easily accomplished through the use of reset knob
`'38. By turning the reset knob in a clockwise direction
`(as viewed in FIG. 1) the miles dial (again as viewed in
`FIG. 1) can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction
`until a zero reading is achieved. When such a reading
`is achieved, the hand 37 will also read zero. It will be
`understood that when the reset knob 38 is turned in the
`clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, pinion 41 will
`be turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in
`FIG. 2, and will impart clockwise rotation to spur gear
`43. In a similar fashion, the spur gear 40 will impart a
`clockwise rotation to crown gear 31 and this will cause
`pinion 24 and ratchet wheel 23 to turn in a counter
`clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4). Thus the
`pawl will not interfere with the resetting of the instru
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`5
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`operatively connected to said indicator means, a pen
`dulum, means for pivotally mounting one end of said
`pendulum to said plate, said pendulum being swingable
`in a plane substantially perpendicular to said support
`plate in response to the strides of the user, means for
`converting the swinging motion of said pendulum to in
`cremental rotational motion of said gear train, case
`means to enclose said support plate, distance indicator
`means and drive means and means to affix said pedom
`eter to the user’s body.
`2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said case
`means comprises front and rear halves, said front half
`being transparent, said front half being engageable with
`said rear half with said support plate held therebe
`tween, said support plate having a rear surface facing
`said rear case half and a front surface facing said front
`case half.
`2' 3. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said rear
`half of said case is transparent.
`4. The structure claimed in claim 2 wherein said sup
`port plate is transparent.
`, 5. The structure claimed in claim 1 including means
`whereby said distance indicator means may be manu
`ally adjusted to any desired initial‘ setting.
`6. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said
`means for converting said swinging motion of said pen_
`dulum to incremental rotational motion comprises a
`toothed ratchet wheel and pinion pivotally mounted on
`said means pivotally mounting said pendulum, said
`ratchet wheel and pinion being coaxial and intercon
`nected to rotate together, a pawl pivotally mounted on
`said pivotally mounted end of said pendulum, said pawl
`being so located and so con?gured as to engage the
`teeth of said ratchet wheel and impart an increment of
`rotation to said ratchet wheel and pinion at each swing
`of said pendulum in a given direction, said pawl passing
`over a predetermined number of said ratchet wheel
`teeth when said pendulum swings in an opposite direc
`tion, said pinion being operatively engaged with said
`gear train to drive said gear train and said indicator
`means.
`7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said gear
`train comprises a crown gear and pinion assembly rota
`tively mounted on said rear surface of said support
`plate, said crown gear and pinion of said assembly
`being coaxial and interconnected for simultaneous ro
`tation, a spur gear rotatively mounted on said rear sur
`face of said support plate, said spur gear being opera
`tively connected to said indicator means to drive said
`indicator means, said crown gear being engaged by said
`pinion interconnected with said ratchet wheel, said
`spur gear being engaged by said pinion of said crown
`gear and pinion assembly whereby said increment of
`rotation imparted to said interconnected ratchet wheel
`and pinion by said pendulum and pawl drives said gear
`train and said indicator means.
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`8. The structure claimed in claim 6 including ?rst and
`second stop means to determine the amount of travel
`of said pendulum in both of said directions, one of said
`?rst and second stop means being adjustable whereby
`to select said predetermined number of ratchet wheel
`teeth passed over by said pawl to calibrate said pedom
`eter to said user.
`9. The structure claimed in claim 7 including a shaft
`rotatably mounted in a perforation through said sup
`‘ port plate, said spur gear being non-rotatively mounted
`on that end of. said shaft extending from said- rear sur
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`ment.
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`Modi?cations may be made in the invention without
`departing from the spirit of it. For example, pinion 41,
`spur gear 43,.miles dial 44 and opening 45 could be
`eliminated. In such an instance, the pedometer toy
`would only give a reading of the number of feet tra
`versed. In a similar fashion, either or both of the indica
`tor means (hand 37 and dial 44) could be designed to
`give any desired distance reading, upon appropriate se
`lection of the size and number of teeth of the gears of
`the gear train. It would also be within the scope of the
`invention to provide the pedometer toy with indicator
`means of the digital type or audible indicator means
`such as a bell.
`v
`The case 1 and disc-like support plate 14 may be
`combined into a single unit. One or both of these ele
`ments may be made of transparent plastic material or
`the like so that substantially all‘ of the mechanism of the
`pedometer toy is viewable.
`»
`Finally, means may be provided to calibrate the pe
`dometer toy to the user for even greater accuracy. It
`will be remembered that the forward motion of the
`pendulum 22 is governed by the strap means 27. With
`respect to the rearward movement of the pendulum,
`the portion 3 of the case 1 serves as a stop. Either one
`of these stops may be made adjustable. For purposes of
`an exemplary showing, an adjustable stop is diagram
`matically illustrated in broken lines at 49 in FIG. 4. The
`stop is shown in the form of an adjustment screw pass
`ing through the portion 3 of the case 1. By adjustment
`of the stop 49, the number of teeth of the ratchet wheel
`23 passed over by the pawl 25, with each swing of the
`pendulum, can be determined. As a result, the advance
`of the indicator means can be calibrated to the individ
`ual user.
`The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu
`sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as fol
`lows:
`' l. A pedometer for indicating the distance traversed
`by the user, said pedometer comprising a support plate,
`distance indicator means being supported by said plate,
`drive means for said indicator means being supported
`by said plate, said drive means comprising a gear train
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`ond spur gear rotatively affixed to said rear surface of
`said support plate, a pinion non-rotatively mounted on
`said shaft, said last mentioned pinion engaging and
`driving said second spur gear, means whereby an annu
`lar portion of said second spur gear is viewable through 1
`said support plate from said front surface thereof, said
`second spur gear comprising a second distance indica
`tor means, said annular portion of said second spur
`gear having distance indicia means thereon.
`12. The structure claimed in claim 11 wherein said
`distance indicia means on said front surface of said sup
`port plate is marked in feet and said distance indicia
`means on said second spur gear is marked in fractions
`ofamile.
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`face of said support plate, said distance indicator
`means comprising an indicating hand non-rotatively
`mounted on that end of said shaft extending from said
`front surface of said support plate, distance indicia ‘
`means being located on said support plate front surface
`whereby rotation of said indicator hand with vsaid spur
`gear will cause said indicator hand to rotate past said
`indicia means giving a distance indication.
`10. The structure claimed in claim 9 including a per
`foration in said front half of said case, said distance in
`dicator hand having a hub‘portion extending through
`said perforation whereby vsaid distance indicator means
`may be manually turned to any desired initial setting.
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`10
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`I 11. The structure claimed in claim 9 including a sec
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