Counter
First Claim
1. A counter comprising:
- a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of said first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of said first and second indicia indicating a count;
a third ring member being coaxially arranged about said common axis of said first and second ring members;
a drive mechanism for rotating said first ring member; and
a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling said first ring member to said second ring member, to allow said first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of said first ring member when not coupled;
wherein said coupling mechanism comprises first and second engagement means and a deflector, said first engagement means being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said axis, said first engagement means engage with said second engagement means when said first engagement means are moved radially outwardly and said deflector is connected to, or integral with said third ring member, and deflects said first engagement means radially outwardly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A counter containing: a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of the first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of the first and second indicia indicating a count; a drive mechanism for rotating the first ring member; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the first ring member to the second ring member, to allow the first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of the first ring member when not coupled; wherein the coupling mechanism contains first and second engagement structures, the first engagement structures being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the axis.
304 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A counter comprising:
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a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of said first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of said first and second indicia indicating a count; a third ring member being coaxially arranged about said common axis of said first and second ring members; a drive mechanism for rotating said first ring member; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling said first ring member to said second ring member, to allow said first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of said first ring member when not coupled; wherein said coupling mechanism comprises first and second engagement means and a deflector, said first engagement means being movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said axis, said first engagement means engage with said second engagement means when said first engagement means are moved radially outwardly and said deflector is connected to, or integral with said third ring member, and deflects said first engagement means radially outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A counter comprising:
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a first ring member having first indicia and a second ring member having second indicia, each of said first and second ring members being rotatable in increments about a common axis, one or both of said first and second indicia indicating a count; a drive mechanism for rotating said first ring member; and a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling said first ring member to said second ring member, to allow said first and second ring members to rotate cooperatively when coupled and to allow independent rotating of said first ring member when not coupled; wherein said coupling mechanism comprises first and second engagement means, wherein said first engagement means comprise an arm having a slot and a contact end, said first engagement means are movable radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to said axis and said first engagement means engage with said second engagement means when said first engagement means are moved radially outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification