Abstract:
Counter for stacked articles, e.g., folding chairs. A wheel having a notched peripheral surface is connected to a count indicator. The wheel and counter interact so that when a user places the wheel with a notch at the lowermost of the stacked articles and the wheel is rotated by moving the counter vertically against the stack, each time a successive notch is moved the count indicator registers the next highest number.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to a device for counting stacked elongated articles, in particular a stack of folding chairs.  
           [0002]    Persons engaged in providing seating for large events whether they be contained in an outdoor tent or in a large hall supply, among other things, tables and chairs. Suppliers of such equipment generally utilize folding chairs which are made of tubular metal and which are stacked on a movable cart so that they can be conveyed to a particular site, off loaded and set up. One of the things that providers of such equipment must be attentive to is the fact that they have the proper number of chairs for a given event and that after the event is over that they inventory the chairs to make sure that they recover all of their equipment. This means that the chairs must be physically counted and sometimes recounted to make sure the requisite number of chairs are either delivered or accounted for.  
           [0003]    Counting of chairs by hand is a tedious and time consuming function.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention combines a counter indicator with a rotating wheel having notches equally spaced around the periphery so that a notch can engage individual elongated members. The counter and wheel are arranged on a handle so that the user can engage a single notch on the lower most member and roll the counter vertically thus contacting each tubular member in succession. The notches and the counter are connected so that each time a notch is rotated into the next position an additional count is added to the counter. The counter can be a mechanical counter such as used for counting persons entering through a turnstile, or an electronic counter, devices which are well known in the art.  
           [0005]    Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for rapidly counting stacked articles having a generally circular cross-section comprising in combination: a generally elongated handle having a first end and a second end; a generally circular article engaging device rotably mounted on the first end of the handle, the article engaging device having a plurality of semi-circular shaped notches on a peripheral surface of the article engaging device, the notches adapted to engage individual stacked articles, a counting indicator mounted on the handle and connected to the article engaging device, the counter and the article engaging device selected so that each time the article engaging device is moved to another stacked article the counter moves one unit; whereby when the article engaging device is placed against the lowermost of the stacked articles and the article engaging device is moved upwardly, an accurate count of the number of stacked articles is rapidly effected.  
           [0006]    In another aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for rapidly counting a stack of folding chairs made from tubular material with a generally circular cross-section comprising in combination: a generally elongated handle having a first end and a second end; a generally circular article engaging device rotatably mounted on the first end of the handle, the article engaging device having a plurality of semi-circular shaped notches on a peripheral surface of the article engaging device, the notches adapted to engage individual stacked articles, and a counting indicator mounted on the handle and connected to the article engaging device, the counter and the article engaging device selected so that each time the article engaging device is moved to another stacked article the counter moves one unit; whereby when said article engaging device is placed against the lowermost of the stacked articles and the article engaging device is moved upwardly, an accurate count of the number of stacked articles is rapidly effected.  
           [0007]    In yet another aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for rapidly counting elongated articles stacked in an array with separation between adjacent elongated articles comprising in combination: a generally elongated handle having a first end and a second end; a generally circular article engaging device rotatably mounted on the first end of the handle, the article engaging device having a plurality of semi-circular shaped notches on a peripheral surface of the article engaging device, the notches adapted to engage individual stacked articles, and a counting indicator mounted on the handle and connected to the article engaging device, the counter and the article engaging device selected so that each time the article engaging device is moved to another stacked article the counter moves one unit; whereby when the article engaging device is placed against the lowermost of the stacked articles and the article engaging device is moved upwardly, an accurate count of the number of stacked articles is rapidly effected. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a top plan plan view of the device of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is schematic representation of the device of FIG. 1 placed in a beginning position during use.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the device of FIG. 1 in an intermediate position during use of the device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  a counting apparatus according to present invention is generally referred to as  10 . Counting apparatus  10  includes an elongated handle  12  having a first end  14  and a second and  16 . A grip aid  18  such as used on bicycle handle bars can be affixed to the second end  16  of the handle  12  to provide comfort and grip for a user.  
         [0014]    Disposed on the first end  14  of handle  12  is a notched wheel  20  adapted to rotate freely about a central axis  22  which is fixed through a suitable collar  24  and nut  26  onto handle  12 . The peripheral surface  28  of wheel  20  includes a plurality of equally spaced notches  30  that are adapted to engage the devices being counted. In other words if the device  10  is used to count stacked chairs made from a tubular material the notches  30  are made so that each notch will engage a portion of the surface of a tubular member of the chair. The notches can be semi-circular in cross-section as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. On an inner face  32  of wheel  20  and spaced between each notch  30  is a protruding pin  34 . The pin  34  can extend through the wheel  20  and be anchored therein by an interference fit, welding, threaded apertures and the like. The pins  34  are adapted to communicate with the actuator  36  of counter  38  so that each time a pin strikes the actuator  34  the next higher number is registered on the indicator, e.g., dial indicator  40  of counter  38 . Such counters are well known in the art and used for a variety of purposes. Hand held counters where the activator is moved by an individuals thumb or finger that are used for doing traffic surveys and for counting persons entering an event, or a ride at an amusement park are well known. Such counters are also used in combination with a wheel to measure distances around the periphery of a piece of property or distances at the scene of an accident, as is well known in the art. Counter  38  is fixed to handle  10  in any convenient manner as by bolting, welding, adhesives or the like.  
         [0015]    On the first end  14  of handle  12  is a positioning device  42  which extends from the first end of  14  of handle  10  to a position that is adjacent the lowest portion of each notch  30  on wheel  20  as shown in FIG. 2. The positioning device  42  can be a rod fixed to the handle  12  in any convenient manner and is preferably made of a durable material that will not show excessive wear in use.  
         [0016]    An auxiliary handle  44  can be fixed to handle  12  by being threaded into a suitable aperture in handle  12  or any other convenient fastening means, as would be apparent to a worker skilled in the art. Handle  44  is placed at a right angle to handle  12  so that the user of the device  10  can steady the devices as will hereinafter be more fully explained. The outward end of auxiliary handle  44  can have a gripping device  46  which is similar to gripping device  18  on handle  12 .  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 4 a user positions the device  10  at the lower most member  50  of stacked array  52  with the indicator  38  set at 1. In this position the wheel  32  is placed so that a peripheral notch  30  is centered on the lower most tubular member  50 . The user whose arms are shown in dotted lines can use the handle  12  and auxiliary handle  44  to steady the device  10 . The user then rolls the wheel  22  upwardly in a vertical direction so that the next successive notch touches the next tubular member  52  in the array moving the counter 1 position. As shown in FIG. 5 the user continues vertical movement of the device  10  until the top of the stacked array  52  is reached and at that point the total number of members in the stack has been counted.  
         [0018]    It is apparent that using the device according to the present invention provides the user with a method and apparatus to rapidly count a stacked array of elongated members such as tubes and the like.  
         [0019]    In particular the device of the present invention is a vast improvement over hand counting for those persons engaged in providing folding chairs for rent to individuals, organizations or businesses.  
         [0020]    In addition to using the device to count chairs any stacked array of materials with a regular cross-section, where there is a space between successive members of the stack can be counted using such a device. For example, square tubular members in a stacked array could be counted. However, in this instance the shape of the notches on the periphery of the wheel will have to be changed.  
         [0021]    In a like manner hexagonal or octagonal or any shaped tube between a square and circular cross-section can be counted providing the proper configuration of the periphery of wheel  22  is made.  
         [0022]    Having thus described my invention what is desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims and should be read without limitation.