PEDOMETER WITH DIRECTION READOUT

• US 3,635,399 A
• Filed: 09/23/1969
• Issued: 01/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eric A. Sandberg, Ernst A. Dahlquist
• Original Assignee: Eric A. Sandberg, Ernst A. Dahlquist
• Inventors: Dahlquist, Ernst A., Sandberg, Eric A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkinson, Richard B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wal, Stanley A.
• Application Number:
  US04/860,194
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 235/105 33/222 346/8
• US Class Current: 235/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

An integrating pedometer, to be carried by a person walking, having a pendulum pedometer movement, a spring-loaded escapement assembly which suddenly reciprocates a needle at distance-related periodic intervals, a compass assembly which positions said needle as a function of the direction of travel, a sphere which is turned by said sudden reciprocation of said needle, a northsouth register wheel and an east-west register wheel contacting said sphere to register the rotation thereof, and a readout assembly including a dial to indicate the distance and direction back to the point of origin.

Claims

1. A distance- and direction-indicating pedometer instrument, comprising:

a pedometer means for producing an output proportional to distance traveled, said means having an actuator comprising an inertia pendulum which moves by gravity in response to the striding movements of a person carrying said instrument;

a compass means for determining the direction of travel of such person; and

mEans for combining and visually reading out correlated distance and direction data from said pedometer means and compass means, such that said person may determine the same by visual inspection.

2. The pedometer instrument of claim 1, wherein said means for combining and visually reading out data includes means for integrating the distance and direction information from said pedometer means and compass means, and for producing an integrated output thereof.

3. The pedometer instrument of claim 2, wherein said integrating means is a continuous integrator of instantaneous distance and direction information, and said integrated output continuously shows the instantaneous distance and direction back to a point of reference.

4. The pedometer instrument of claim 2, including means for interconnecting said pedometer means to said integrating means and for transferring mechanical energy from the former to the latter.

5. A distance- and direction-indicating pedometer instrument, comprising:

a pedometer means for producing an output proportional to distance traveled, in response to the striding movements of a person carrying said instrument;

a compass means for determining the direction of travel of such person; and

means for correlating and visually reading out correlated distance and direction data from said pedometer means and compass means, such that said person may determine the same by visual inspection, said means for correlating and visually reading out data including means for integrating the distance and direction information from said pedometer means and compass means, and for producing an integrated output thereof;

means for interconnecting said pedometer means to said integrating means and for transferring mechanical energy from the former to the latter, said integrating means including a sphere-shaped member mounted for rotation about a plurality of axes;

said means for transferring energy causing such rotation of said sphere member; and

said compass means determining the particular axis of said plurality thereof about which said rotation takes place.

6. The pedometer instrument of claim 5, including a first and a second rotatable element positioned in contact with said sphere;

said first element registering at least a component part of rotation of said sphere representative of motion by said person along any vector of a first direction of travel; and

said second element registering at least a component part of rotation of said sphere representative of motion by said person along any vector of a second direction which is perpendicular to said first direction.

7. The pedometer instrument of claim 6, wherein said first and second rotatable elements comprise wheels;

said sphere member being rotatable about a plurality of axes lying in a predetermined plane through its center;

said first and second wheels each lying in a plane which is generally parallel to said predetermined plane; and

said first and second wheels contacting said sphere at points lying on great circles of said sphere whose planes are perpendicular to said predetermined plane and to each other.

8. The pedometer instrument of claim 7, wherein said point of contact of said first wheel also lies on a minor circle of said sphere whose plane is parallel to that of said predetermined plane;

said point of contact of said second wheel also lying on a minor circle of said sphere whose plane is parallel to that of said given plane.

9. The pedometer instrument of claim 8, wherein said first and second wheels lie generally in the same plane;

and the plane of said wheels being located a distance from said predetermined plane which approaches the radius of said sphere.

10. The pedometer instrument of claim 5, wherein said pedometer means includes means for storing energy generated by a plurality of successive steps taken by said person and discharging stored quantities of such energy;

and a sphere-rotating means for receiving discharged quantities of energy and rotating the sphere in response theReto.

11. The pedometer instrument of claim 10, wherein said means for storing and discharging energy includes an axle having a lateral extension and having a camming surface;

a spring anchored at one end and connected at the other end to said lateral extension;

a sphere-rotating means;

means for rotating said axle a predetermined amount in response to each step of said person, thereby turning said lateral extension loading said spring by elastically deforming it and for releasing said axle when said spring is loaded a predetermined amount, such that said axle is rapidly rotated by said spring;

said camming surface operably contacting said sphere-rotating means during said rapid rotation of said axle; and

said sphere-rotating means imparting rotation to said sphere in response to the operation of said camming surface.

12. The pedometer instrument of claim 11, wherein said sphere-rotating means includes a member having a needlelike portion mounted for movement into contact with said sphere to cause rotation thereof.

13. The pedometer instrument of claim 12, wherein said compass means includes a magnet coupled to said member to move the latter with respect to said sphere.

14. The pedometer instrument of claim 12, including a lever means pivotally mounted in alignment with said camming surface and with said needlelike member;

and a shaft supporting said needlelike member for guided movement;

said camming surface contacting said lever means during said rapid axle rotation and moving said lever means sufficiently to cause the latter to move said needlelike member into contact with said sphere and rotate the latter.

15. The pedometer instrument of claim 14, wherein said compass means includes a magnet coupled to said member to move the latter with respect to said sphere.