SCORE COUNTER FOR RACKET OR PADDLE

Abstract

An assembly comprises a base and a housing having a longitudinal axis extending orthogonally from the base. A plurality of scoring wheels is mounted to the base in a stacked relationship and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, each scoring wheel having indicia comprising spaced apart markings on a circumferential surface about the longitudinal axis indicative of a score for a team or player in a game. The housing has side walls about the longitudinal axis obscuring the indicia on the scoring wheels arranged to form three spaced-apart apertures allowing the indicia to be readily seen, the three spaced-apart apertures comprising a first aperture and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture, and a third aperture located spaced-apart from and between the first aperture and the second aperture.

Claims

1. A assembly comprising: a base; a housing having a longitudinal axis extending orthogonally from the base; a plurality of scoring wheels mounted to the base in a stacked relationship and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, each scoring wheel having indicia comprising spaced apart markings on a circumferential surface about the longitudinal axis indicative of a score for a team or player in a game; and wherein the housing has side walls about the longitudinal axis obscuring the indicia on the scoring wheels arranged to form three spaced-apart apertures allowing the indicia to be readily seen, the three spaced-apart apertures comprising a first aperture and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture, and a third aperture located spaced-apart from and between the first aperture and the second aperture.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an end surface opposite the base, the scoring wheels comprising a first scoring wheel proximate the base and a second scoring wheel on a side of the first scoring wheel opposite the base and adjacent the end surface.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture have an end surface edge portion that is formed on the end surface so as to reveal a perimeter edge of the circumferential surface of the second scoring wheel and a portion of an end surface of the second scoring wheel forming the perimeter edge with the circumferential surface of the second scoring wheel.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture have a first base edge portion and a second base edge portion, respectively, that are formed adjacent the base so as to reveal a perimeter edge of the circumferential surface of the first scoring wheel and a portion of an end surface of the first scoring wheel forming the perimeter edge with the circumferential surface of the first scoring wheel adjacent the base.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein each first base edge portion is a first notch and each second base edge portion is a second notch, each of the first and second notches extending inwardly from a base perimeter edge of the base.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a socket to receive an end of a paddle or racket.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the socket is of size to receive the end of the paddle or racket and be in frictional engagement inhibiting removal thereof without any modification of the end of the paddle or racket.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the socket is of size to receive the end of the paddle or racket and be in frictional engagement inhibiting removal wherein a wrapping or the end of the paddle or racket has been modified so as to be received by the socket.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the third aperture is of size to show only markings of a current score of a game.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second apertures are each of a size larger than the third aperture.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second apertures are disposed about the longitudinal axis and of size to allow a portion of thumb or finger to be inserted into the first and/or second aperture to selectively engage the circumferential surfaces of the scoring wheels to cause individual rotation in order to update a score as seen through the third aperture.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first aperture is of size to display a portion of the circumferential surfaces of each associated scoring wheel such that at least one marking and at least a portion of an adjacent marking of each of the plurality of scoring wheels is seen through the first aperture.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the second aperture is of size to display a portion of the circumferential surfaces of each associated scoring wheel such that at least one marking and at least a portion of an adjacent marking of each of the plurality of scoring wheels is seen through the second aperture.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second apertures are disposed about the longitudinal axis and of size to allow a portion of thumb to be inserted into the first aperture and a portion of a finger of a same hand is insertable into the second aperture so as to selectively engage the circumferential surfaces of the plurality of scoring wheels to cause individual rotation in order to update a score as seen through the third aperture.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein housing includes a projection and at least one of the plurality of scoring wheels includes an aperture configured to receive the projection, the at least one of the plurality of scoring wheels being configured to rotate around the projection.

16. The assembly of claim 15, and further comprising a fastener extending along the longitudinal axis and through the at least one of the plurality of scoring wheels and the projection.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the scoring wheels include an aperture through which the fastener extends.

18. The assembly of claim 17 and further comprising a spacer disposed between the scoring wheels, the fastener extending through the spacer.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein spacer includes a spacer projection wherein one of the plurality of scoring wheels rotates about the spacer projection.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the spacer comprises a recess configured to receive the projection.

21. The assembly of claim 18 and further comprising one or more spring elements to engage one or more of the plurality of scoring wheels, or the housing, or the spacer to inhibit free rotation of the one or more of the plurality of scoring wheels.

22. The assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a paddle or racket secured to the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a front-right perspective view of a score counter on a paddle shown with broken lines.

[0006] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front-right perspective view of the score counter of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a left elevational view of the score counter of FIG. 2

[0010] FIG. 6 is a right elevational view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a first exploded view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a first exploded view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 11 is another front elevational view of the score counter of FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the score counter taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11.

[0017] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the score counter taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIGS. 1-13 illustrate a score counter 10 usable with a paddle or racket, 11.

[0019] The score counter 10 includes a base 12 and a housing 14 having a longitudinal axis 16 extending orthogonally from the base 12. A plurality of scoring wheels 21, 22 are mounted to the base 12 in a stacked relationship. Each of the scoring wheels 21, 22 is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis 16.

[0020] Each scoring wheel 21, 22 has indicia, 21A, 22A comprising spaced-apart markings on a circumferential surface 21B, 22B about the longitudinal axis 16 (FIGS. 12 and 13) that indicate a score for a team or player in a game. Referring back to the housing 14, sidewalls 24 about the longitudinal axis 16 obscure at least some of the indicia 21A, 22A on the scoring wheels 21, 22. The sidewalls 24 are arranged to form three spaced-apart apertures 31, 32, and 33 allowing the markings of the indicia 21A, 22A to be readily seen when present in the apertures 31-33.

[0021] The apertures 31-33 comprise a first aperture 31 and a second aperture 32 spaced-apart from the first aperture 31, for example, approximately on the opposite side about 180 degrees from the first aperture 33 or 30-31. The third aperture 33 is located spaced-apart from and between the first aperture 31 and the second aperture 32. An end surface 40 is provided on a side opposite the base 12. In the embodiment illustrated, a first scoring wheel 21 is proximate the base 12, while a second scoring wheel 22 on a side of the first scoring wheel 21 opposite the base 12 is adjacent the end surface 40.

[0022] The first and second apertures 31, 32 are configured so as to allow easy, selective rotation of the first scoring wheel 21 and the second scoring wheel 22. Each of the first aperture 31 and the second aperture 32 have an end surface edge portion 41A, 42A that is formed on the end surface 40 so as to reveal a perimeter edge 22C of the circumferential surface 22B of the second wheel 22 and a portion of an end surface 22D of the second wheel 22 forming the perimeter edge 22C with the circumferential surface 22B of the second wheel 22. Revealing these portions of the second wheel 22 can be helpful so as to allow the second wheel 22 to be easily accessed through the first and/or second apertures 31, 32 to allow rotation thereof.

[0023] Likewise, each of the first aperture 31 and the second aperture 32 has a first base edge portion 31A, 32A, respectively, that are formed adjacent to base 12 so as to reveal a perimeter edge 21C of the circumferential surface 21B of the first wheel 21 and a portion of an end surface 21D of the first wheel 21 forming the perimeter edge 21C with the circumferential surface 21B of the first wheel 21 adjacent to base 12. The revealed portions of the first wheel 21 through the first and or second apertures 31, 32 can be helpful so as to allow the first wheel 21 to be selectively accessed and rotated when desired.

[0024] In the embodiment illustrated, each first base edge portion 31A, 32A form a notch 31B, 32B in the base 12. Each of notches 31B, 32B extend inwardly from a base perimeter edge 12A of the base 12 toward the longitudinal axis 16.

[0025] The third aperture 33 is used to show the current score in the game. Preferably, the third aperture 33 is of size to show only markings from the indicia 21A, 22A that corresponds to the current score of the game. In contrast, the first and second apertures 31, 32 are each of a size larger than the third aperture 33. In the embodiment illustrated, the first aperture 31 and/or the second aperture 32 is of size to display a portion of the circumferential surfaces 21B, 22B of each associated scoring wheel 21, 22 such that at least one marking and at least a portion of an adjacent marking of each scoring wheel 21, 22 can be seen through the first aperture 31 and/or the second aperture 32. For example, the first and second apertures 31, 32 are disposed about the longitudinal axis, axis 16 and are of size to allow a portion of a thumb or finger to be inserted into the first and/or second apertures 31, 32 to selectively engage the circumferential surfaces 21B, 22B of the scoring wheels 21, 22 to cause individual rotation in order to update a score as seen through the third aperture 33. For instance, a portion of a thumb can be inserted into the first aperture 31 while a portion of a finger of a same hand, if desired, is insertable into the second aperture 32 to selectively engage the circumferential surfaces 21B, 22B of the scoring wheels 21, 22 whereby manipulation of the thumb and finger rotate the first and/or second wheel 21, 22 as desired.

[0026] As indicated above, the scoring wheels 21, 22 are in a stacked relationship. In the housing 14, each of the scoring wheels 21, 22 can have a diameter that approximates the end of the racket. Likewise, the scoring wheels 21, 22 can each have a width as desired because it does not contribute significantly to the length of the racket 11. By selecting an appropriate width of the circumferential surfaces 21B, 22B and the diameter being approximate, the end of the racket, the markings of the indicia 21A, 22A can be readily seen through the third aperture 33.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 12-13, the housing 14 includes a projection 50. At least one of the scoring wheels 21, 22 includes an aperture 21E, 22E configured to receive the projection 50, such that the scoring wheel 21 and/or 22 can rotate around the projection 50.

[0028] A fastener 52 extends along the longitudinal axis 16 from the end surface 40 to the base 12 and further extends through at least one of the scoring wheels 21, 22 and the projection 50. Preferably, each of the scoring wheels 21, 22 includes an aperture 21E, 22E through which the fastener 52 extends.

[0029] In the embodiment illustrated, a spacer 54 is disposed between the plurality of scoring wheels 21, 22, with the fastener 52 extending through the spacer 54. The spacer 54 can include a spacer projection 54A, wherein one of the scoring wheels 21, 22 rotates about the spacer projection 54A. To achieve the stacked relationship. In the embodiment illustrated, the spacer 54 comprises a recess 54B configured to receive the projection 50, where the first wheel 21 rotates about projection 50 and the second wheel 22 rotates about projection 54A.

[0030] If desired one or more spring elements 60 (FIGS. 9-10), herein comprising wave washers, engage one or more of the scoring wheels 21, 22 or the housing 14, or the spacer 54 to cause some friction such that the scoring wheels 21, 22 can be rotated, but do not freely spin.

[0031] A detent mechanism is provided for each of the scoring wheels 21, 22 such that the scoring wheels 21, 22 do not freely spin, but rather can be removably locked into the desired position to display the current score through the third aperture 33. In the embodiment illustrated, the detent mechanism comprises a projection that is received in corresponding recesses or notches provided on surfaces about the longitudinal axis 16. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, a projection is provided on one surface of each of the wheels 21, 22 that faces recesses or notches provided in another member. Referring to the first wheel 21, a projection 70 is located on an end surface of the wheel 21 that is selectively received in notches or recesses 72 provided in base 12. Likewise, the second wheel 22 includes a projection 74 that is faces and is selectively received in notches or recesses 76 provided in the spacer 54.

[0032] The score counter 10 can be mounted to the racket or paddle 11 using any one of a number of techniques. For instance, if desired, the base 12 can be mounted directly to the end surface of the racket or paddle 11. The fastening mechanism can comprise one or more screws, adhesive, double sided tape, and/or any combinations thereof to name just a few fastening technique.

[0033] In a further embodiment as illustrated in the figures, the housing 14 can include a socket 80 configured to receive an end surface of a handle 11A of the paddle or racket 11. In the exemplary embodiment, the socket 80 is attached to the base 12 with a backing plate 82. The fastener 52 further extending through the base 12 and the backing plate 82.

[0034] The socket 80 can be of a size such that the handle 11A can be inserted into the socket 80 unmodified in that the score counter 10 simply slides over the end of the handle 11A with or without wrapping being present. In another embodiment, the wrapping on the handle 11A, if present, can first be removed and then the end of the handle 11A can be inserted into the socket 80. At which point, wrapping can then be reapplied to the handle 11A as well as, if desired, onto the housing 14 which can further aid in holding the score counter 10 to the paddle or racket 11 with or without the aforementioned fastening screws, adhesives and/or tape, etc.

[0035] In yet a further embodiment, a wrapping on the handle 11A is removed, exposing an enlarged end of the handle 11A that can be removed. The score counter 11 can then be attached where the base 12 may replicate the enlarged end that was removed, similar to the socket 80 but where the end of the handle 11A is not inserted into a socket 80 but rather the base 12 is attached to the end of the handle 11A. If desired, the handle 11A and the base 12 can then be wrapped.

[0036] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.