Apparatus for timed events performed by cyclists |
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| 申请号 | US45380574 | 申请日 | 1974-03-22 | 公开(公告)号 | US3912259A | 公开(公告)日 | 1975-10-14 |
| 申请人 | MANUEL JAMES EDWARD; | 发明人 | MANUEL JAMES EDWARD; | ||||
| 摘要 | Apparatus for use in timed events performed by cyclists, comprising a combination timing unit and primary course marker, and structure, typically a plurality of movable course markers, for defining a closed course based on the combination unit, the combination unit including a timing device and two actuators which extend laterally from the timing device in opposite directions, one actuator defining the start of the course for the event and being operative, in response to entry of a cycle onto the course, to initiate operation of the timing device, the other actuator defining the finish of the course and being operative, in response to departure of a cycle from the course, to stop the timing device, the movable markers or other coursedefining structure being adapted to be placed to define a course commencing at the one actuator and ending at the other. | ||||||
| 权利要求 | 1. In an apparatus for use in timed events performed by cyclists, the combination of a combination timing device and primary course marker; and course-defining means; said combination timing device and primary course marker comprising, in combination a frame adapted to be supported on the surface over which a cyclists'' event is to be performed, clock means for timing a timed event, said clock means being carried by said frame and havinG a control device movable between a first position, in which the clock means is held inactive, and a second position, in which the clock means is allowed to operate; and actuator means projecting laterally from said frame and including a first actuator element means observable as a target to be traversed by the wheel of a cycle on entry of the cycle to the course, and a second actuator element means observable as a target to be traversed by the wheel of a cycle on departure from the course, said first and second actuator element means being spaced apart in a direction extending transversely of said frame and constructed and arranged such that said control device is moved to its first position by said first actuator element means in response to said first actuator element means being traversed by a cycle wheel and said control device is then moved to said second position by said second actuator element means in response to said second actuator element means being traversed by a cycle wheel, whereby said actuator means provides activation and deactivation of said clock means through said first and second actuator element means thereof, said course-defining means being adapted to be placed to define a closed course commencing with said first actuator element means of the combination timing device and primary course marker and ending with said second actuator element means. 2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said first actuator element means projects from said frame in one direction; said second actuator element means projects from said frame in the opposite direction; and said actuator means further comprises a control member pivotally mounted on said frame and operatively arranged with respect to said control device of said clock means, said first actuator element means is connected to said control member to pivot the same in one direction when the first actuator element means is traversed by a wheel of a cycle entering the course; and said second actuator element means is connected to said control member to pivot the same in the opposite direction when the first actuator element means is traversed by a wheel of a cycle departing the course. 3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second actuator element means are mounted to pivot each about a horizontal axis between an inclined position, for engagement by the cycle wheel, and a depressed position, to which the actuator element means is moved by the cycle wheel. 4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second actuator element means are part of a rigid bar pivoted to swing about an axis located adjacent said clock means and extending generally parallel to the paths of travel of the cycle on entering and departing the course, each of said first and second actuator element means slanting upwardly and away from said axis when in said inclined position. 5. The combination defined in claim 4, and further comprising ramp means including two portions each projecting from a different one of two opposed sides of said frame and each having an upwardly opening recess disposed to receive the corresponding one of said first and second actuator element means when the same is in its depressed position, said actuator element means slanting upwardly above said ramp means when in their inclined positions. 6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein each of said portions of said ramp means comprises two ramp surfaces each located on a different side of said recess and slanting downwardly therefrom; said clock means is a stop watch; said frame comprises a support portion defining a housing for accommodating and retaining the stop watch; and said rigid bar includes a hub portion including means engageable with the control device of the stop watch to start and stop the same in response to pivotal movement of the rigid bar. 7. The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said recesses for accommodaTing said actuator element means are portions of a continuous slot, and said hub portion of said rigid bar is accommodated in said slot; said frame carries an upwardly exposed fulcrum disposed in said slot; and said hub portion has a downwardly opening notch to engage over said fulcrum. 8. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second actuator element means are each mounted to pivot about an axis which is generally transverse to the respective directions of travel of the cycle on entering and departing from the course. 9. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said clock means comprises an escapement mechanism including a a movable regulating member in the form of a pawl lever which traverses a predetermined path during operation of the clock means; said control device is a stop member mounted to swing between a first position, in which the stop member engages the pawl lever and prevents operation of the clock means, and a second position, in which the stop member is displaced from the predetermined path of the pawl lever and the clock means is allowed to operate; said frame comprises a housing structure carrying said clock means, and each of said first and second actuator element means comprises one of a pair of actuator bars projecting laterally from a different side of said housing structure from the other of said pair of actuator bars, and shaft means journalled on said housing structure and interconnecting said actuator bars for simultaneous pivotal movement about a common axis; said stop member being carried by said shaft means, 10. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said control device comprises two horizontal coaxial shaft portions spaced apart axially and each journalled at a different side of said frame, means rigidly interconnecting said shaft portions for simultaneous rotational movement, and a stop member fixed to one of said shaft portions and including a portion spaced radially from the common axis of said shaft portions and arranged to swing between said first position and said second position as a result of rotational movement of said shaft portions; and said actuator means comprises two elongated rods each having both end portions bent to project from the main length of the rod in the same general direction, with the main body of the rod and said end portions lying in a common plane; said rods each having one of said end portions fixed to and extending generally radially from the outer end of a different one of said shaft portions, said rods extending laterally away from said frame in opposite directions, said common plane of each elongated rod including the common axis of rotation of said shaft portions and being mutually divergent at an obtuse angle from the common plane of the other of said elongated rods, whereby, when said frame is placed on a surface over which a cyclists'' event is to be performed, the combination of said control device and said actuating means is allowed only limited movement between a first position, in which the plane occupied by one of said rods is substantially horizontal and the plane occupied by the other of said rods slants upwardly, and a second position, in which the plane of said rod slants upwardly and that of said other rod is substantially horizontal. 11. The combination defined in claim 10, and further comprising detent means operatively connected to said control device to releasably retain the combination of said control device and said actuating means respectively in said first and second positions. 12. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said clock means comprises an escapement mechanism including a movable regulating member in the form of a pawl lever which traverses a predetermined path during operation of the clock means; said control device is a stop member mounted to swing between a first position, in which the stop member engages the pawl lever and prevents operatiOn of the clock means, and a second position, in which the stop member is displaced from the predetermined path of the pawl lever and the clock means is allowed to operate; said frame comprises a housing structure carrying said clock means; and each of said first and second actuator element means comprises one of a pair of actuator bars projecting laterally from a different side of said housing structure from the other of said pair of actuator bars, and means supporting said bars on said housing structure for simultaneous pivotal movement about a common axis which extends in a direction generally parallel to the intended directions of travel of cycles entering and departing the course, said actuating bars lying in planes which includes said common axis and are mutually divergent, whereby when one of such planes is horizontal the other slants upwardly. 13. In an apparatus for use in timed events performed by cyclists, the combination of wheel-operated actuator means comprising a first actuator element including a course-entry treadle portion, a second actuator element including a course-departure treadle portion, means mounting each of said actuator elements for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the paths of travel of cycles performing the events and for interconnecting said actuator elements so that pivotal movement of one causes pivotal movement of the other, said treadle portions being spaced apart in the direction in which said axes extend; frame means; clock means carried by said frame means and including control means actuatable between a first condition, in which the clock means is allowed to run to time the event, and a second condition, in which the clock means is prevented from running; said first and second actuator elements being constructed and arranged to actuate said control means to said first condition in response to operation of said first actuator element and to said second condition in response to operation of said second actuator element, said treadle portion of said first actuator element initially slanting upwardly and in a down-course direction, so as to be observable by a cyclist as ready to be traversed by a wheel of the cycle on entry of the cycle into the course, traversal of said treadle portion of said first actuator element by a cycle wheel causing that treadle portion to pivot downwardly toward the surface over which the course is being performed, such pivotal movement causing the treadle portion of said second actuator element to swing to a position in which the same slants upwardly and away from the course and is observable by the cyclist as ready to be traversed by a wheel of the cycle on departing the course, traversal of said treadle portion of said second actuator element by a wheel of a cycle departing the course causing said treadle portion to pivot downwardly toward the course surface and such pivotal movement causing the treadle portion of the first actuator element to swing again to a position in which the same slants upwardly and away from the course surface in a down course direction. |
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