US2228403A - Calculating or display device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1941. R. P. ROSS CALCLATING on DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 14, -1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l gime/Mm Zp/z Raij Jan. 14, 1941. R. P. Ross 2,228,403

CALCULATING OR DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 14, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,406 no 7,040 7.10 w75 5479 .man 7,595 .76 1,297 1,545 3,870 '7,7 #40 l DE@ gj izo 5oz 4,79 m s Jan. 14, 1941. R. P. Ross CALCULTING 0R DISPLAY DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 14, 19159 @www aZ/v/zPRo 255 585 ,161 raz 1,050

m., w 6M W Z.. I. Z 830 5m uw 392/ 4 5 5 M12 Jan. 14, 1941. R. P. Ross CALCULATING OR DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 14, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :Tramway l Jan. 14, 1941. R. P, ROSS 2,228,403

' cALcULATING on DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 14, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 5 Jaz Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to calculating or display devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple calculating or display device which includes a housing and a plurality of slide members mounted in the housing, the slide members and the housing having correlated indicia.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel housing and means carried by the housing for slidably supporting a yplurality of slide indicia bearing cards within the housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a housing .and a plurality of slida'ble indicia bearing cards in the housing and separators interposed between the confronting faces of adjacent cards so as to not only facilitate the sliding movement of one card but also to hold the remaining. cards against movement when one card is moved longitudinally of the housing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be constructed out of relatively stiff iibrous material, such as cardboard, stiff paper or even metal, the housing being of such a construction that it may be readily stamped out of a single sheet of material and then bent into proper configuration.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein certain of the cards are provided not only with indicia which is correlated to cer-tain indicia carried by the housing but certain of the cards are also provided with distinguishing colors which are correlated with similar colors carried by the housing and upon which correlated indicia is positioned.

To `the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modiiications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a calculating or display device constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail rear elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sec-tional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 with all but one of the s1iding cards removed from the housing,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the housing in blank form,

Figure 6 is a detail front elevation of the slide cards removed from the housing,

Figure 'I is a detail rear elevation of one of the slide cards,

Figure 8 is a plan view of one of the spacer members between the slide cards,

Figure 9 is a detail front elevation of a modified form of this device,

Figure 10 is a detail front elevation of the slide cards associated with the device shown in Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a detail front elev-ation partly broken away yand in section of a further modified form showing the housing in open position,

Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the housing shown in Figure l1 with the slide cards mounted therein,

Figure 13 is a detail front elevation of the slide cards partly broken away associated with the device shown in Figures 11 and l2,

Figure 14 is ya transverse sectional view of the housing shown in Figures 11 and 12 with the slide cards removed therefrom,

Figure 15 is a detail plan view of the housing shown in Figures 1l and 12 with the housing in blank form,

Figure 16 is a perspective view partly broken away of one of the end members associated with the housing shown in Figures 11 and 15, and

Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective View of the housing reinforcing means for use with the housing shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9.

Referring to the drawings and iirst to Figures l to 8 inclusive, the numeral 20 designates generally a housing which as shown in Figure 5 is provided with a front wall 2|, a back wall 22 which is formed integral therewith, being connected together by an end wall 23. The end wall 23 is provided with a plurality of notches 24 between which the end wall 23 is formed into relatively narrow divider strips 25. When the housing is in blank form the notches 24 assume the configuration of substantially a rectangle with rounded corners 26. The sheet from which the housing is formed is bent along scores 28 and 29 which are disposed in parallel relation to each other so that the end wall 23 will be disposed at right angles to the front and back walls 2| and 22 respectively.

The back wall 22 at the end thereof opposite from the end wall 23 or at the lower end is provided with an end wall 30 which projects beyond the back wall 22 and a score 3| extends between the back wall 22 and the end wall 30 so that the end wall 30 may be readily bent along the score 3| at a right angle to the back wall 22. A securing flap 32 is formed integral with the end wall 30 and a second score 33 extends along the length of the end wall 30 so as to facilitate the bending upwardly of the flap 32 which is later adapted to be adhesively secured to the front or back face of the front wall 2| as shown in Figure 1.

The back wall 22 is provided on its longitudinal edges with extensions or side wall forming members 34 forming the opposite edges or sides of the housing 2|) and a score 35 extends between the ad- Cil jacent edge of the back wall 22 and a member 34 so that the side member 313 may be readily bent right angles to the back wall i". A securing flap is formed integral with each member Si'. and a score 31" extends between the adjacent or inner edge of the flap 35 and the adjacent edge of the side wall member 3ft so that the side ap 3b may be bent at right angles or inwardly to a position confronting the front or back face of the front wall 2i and then may be adhesively secured to the front wall 2i. That portion of each member between the scores 37 forms a side wall or the housing.

When the housing 2li is in assembled forni the housing is closed on all sides and the only access which may be had to the interior is through the slots or notches 2li in the upper end wall 23. The slots 2: have portions thereof arranged in the upper ends of the front and back walls 2|, 22. 'Ine housing 2G is provided in the front wall 2| with a plurality of transversely aligned and spaced apart rectangular windows 38 and the housing is also provided in the back wall 22 with a plurality of transversely aligned rectangular square or circular windows 39 which are adapted to be positioned in substantial registry with the windows '58.

The housing 25 is adapted to have positioned therein a plurality of slidable calculating or indicia displaying cards 46 which are substantially rectangular in plan and the cards 6U are provided adjacent the inner ends thereof with a plurality of transversely aligned spaced apart rectangular, square or circular openings 4| which when each card is in its innermost position are adapted to register with the openings 36 and S9 of the housing 2S. Each card d is provided at its upper edge with an elongated tongue or strip which is adapted to permanently project slightly through a slot 24 at the upper end of the housing when the card is in its innermost position. The strips or tongues which extend from the cards 43 are indicated at 42, 2a, 42D and 2o. Each card 45 on one face thereof is provided with indicia 43 extending downwardly from each window or opening LH, which indicia is correlated with indicia 44 carried by the strip or tongue extended from the card. Each card (la) is also provided on the opposite face thereof with indicia 45 which is correlated with indicia 116 carried by the adjacent face of the tongue or elongated strip extended therefrom. As shown in the drawings, each card 49 is provided with a differentiating color from the remaining cards, and its tongue from which it extends is provided with a color similar to the card from which it extends. The tongues 42a, 42D and 42e have colors different from each other from the color tongue 52.

The front wall 2| of the housing 29 is provided with at least two colored strips l and 48 which are colored similar to the colors carried by the tongues 42h and 42e and the cards associated -ierewith The front wall 2i is also provided with indicia 49 in the colored strip 47| and indicia 5i] ni the colored strip 43 which is also associated with or correlated with the indicia carried by the cards 43 which are attached to the strips or tongues 42D and 42e, and are of corresponding colors to indica-te correlation between these tongues and indicia.

The front wall 2| at a point below each opening or window 38 thereof is provided with indicia 5|, as shown in Figure l, and is also provided with indicia 52 positioned above each window opening 38. A dividing line 53 divides at least two of the windows 38 from the remaining windows and indicia 54 is positioned above the indicia 52 in the space at one side of the line 53 and indicia 55 is positioned on the opposite side of the line 53 above the indicia 52.

The iront wall 2| above the indicia 51 and 55 is provided with a transversely disposed line 56 and a pair of parallel lines 5l and 58 which extend from the line 56 to the upper end of the front wall 2|. The front wall 2| is also provided with indicia 59 positioned closely adjacent the lower edge of each notch or cut-out portion 24, which indicia is associated with or correlated with the indicia 44 carried by the tongues of the cards within the housing 20. As will be noted in Figure l, the narrow strips 25 between the tongues :22, 42a, 42o and 42e hold the tongues against lateral movement and provide guide means for these tongues.

The back member E2 is provided with indicia Si) below at least one pair of the window openings 39 and a vertically disposed dividing line 6| extends longitudinally of the back 22 above and below the window openings 3Q. The back 22 is also provided with indicia 52 above the udndow associated with the indicia 63 and on the opposite side oi the line 6i, indicia 63 is provided which is associated with the indicia 45 on the card 4Q.

The back 22 may also be provided with blocked area defined by the lines 64 below the cut-out portions and indicia 65 is positioned in the blocked area S4 which is associated with each tongue member 5.2 and with the indicia 43 on these tongue members.

In order to provide a means whereby the cards lli; may readily be shifted longitudinally of the housing 20 and in order vto prevent bending of the cards 4U and the tongues d2, I have provided a slip sheet EG which is substantially rectangular:` in plan and provided with a substantially diamond-shaped opening 61 in the central portion thereof. This opening 67 has a transverse width substantially equal to the distance from the outermost o the windows 38 and 3S and the opening 67 also extends above and below the upper and lower edges of the window openings 38 and 3.9. By providing the upwardly and downwardly convergent margins of the opening El, the

cards 49 will more readily slide longitudinally of the housing 25. This is accomplished by the novel configuration of the opening E1 which has a tendency to prevent transverse buckling oi the cards 4Q and if such cards do buckle or bend the slip she-ets will tend to straighten the cards out as the cards are moved longitudinally of the housing 2B. Another important function of sheet 65 and opening 6T is to prevent any rough surface of a moving card from tending to move either adjoining card. Each slip sheet 615 is provided at the upper end thereof with a pair of spaced parallel oppositely disposed extensions of like form having their outer side edges flush with the side edges of the slip sheet. The extensions G8 are adapted to extend to the upper end wall 23 at the opposite ends of the end wall 23 thus providing a cut-out portion 69 between the extensions |58 so that the ends of the slip sheets i513 will not project above the lower edges of the slots 2A in the front and back walls 2| and 22 respectively. Another purpose of the extensions is to prevent any appreciable longitudinal movenient of slip-sheet 66, thus keeping the opening 6l in proper register with windows 39, also preventing movement of adjacent cards. There is a slip sheet 66 positioned between the confronting faces of each pair of cards 40.

'Ihe housing 20 is provided at the longitudinal or side edges thereof with channel members 10 which may be formed of metal which is bent in U-form, and at the bottom end of the housing V2l) a transversely disposed channel member 1I is positioned and may be adhesively secured to the lower end wall 30. A U-shaped strip 12 is positioned within the bottom channel member 1| and at the ends thereof projects beyond the ends of the bottom channel member H and projects into the adjacent channel of a side channel member 'l0 as shown in Figure 17. In this manner, a metal reinforcing frame is provided for the housing 20 so that the housing 20 may be constructed out of cardboard which may be of relatively light weight construction and at the same time the housing will be firmly held against longitudinal and lateral bending by the metal frame of substantially U-shaped construction which extends along the side edges of the housing 20 and across the bottom thereof. The cards 40 and the slip sheets 66 engage within the channel members 11i so that these channel members 10 also constitute a guide means for guiding the sliding cards in their movement within the housing 20.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of this invention wherein a housing 20a is provided which is substantially similar to the housing 20. The housing 20a is provided with a front wall 2Ia similar to the front wall 2| and with a back wall similar to the back wall 22 of the housing 20. The front wall 2Ia is provided `with a plurality of transversely aligned spaced apart windows 38a and in like manner the back wall of the housing 20a is provided with openings similar to the openings 39 which register with the openings 38a. The upper end of the housing 20a is provided with an elongated cut-out portion 24a. which extends from a point closely adjacent one side edge of the housing 20a to a point closely adjacent the opposite side edge and tongue members carried by cards 40a are adapted to project upwardly through the cut-out portion or slot 24a. In other respects the housing 20a is similar to the housing 20. The housing 26a has a plurality of sliding cards 40a positioned therein which are each provided with an elongated transversely extending opening or window Ma. This opening Ma has a length substantially equal to the distance from the outer edge of one window 38a to the outer edge of an opposite window 38a carried by the front wall Zia. The card 40a is provided with indicia on the opposite sides thereof similar to the indicia on the cards 40 and the cards 40a may be moved longitudinally of the housing 20a by means of tongue members 42d, 42e, 42j and 42g.

In the present instance, there are four cards 40a with a card 40a associated with each of the tongue members. The tongue member 42d is provided with an outer edge 13 which is parallel with the outer edge of the card 40 and offset inwardly therefrom and the opposite edge of the tongue 42d is inclined or tapered as at 14 from the upper end to the lower or inner end. In this manner the lower end of the tongue 42d is wider than the upper end and provides a reinforcing means for the upper portion of the card 40a. The two tongues 42e and 42f are formed substantially as a truncated triangle and the tongue no is formed similar to the tongue 42d with the outer/ edge 'l5 thereof parallel and inwardly offset with respect to the adjacent edge of the card 40a.

In Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, there is disclosed a further modification of this invention wherein a housing 20h is provided. The housing 20h is provided with a front wall 2lb and a back wall 22h which are substantially rectangular in configuration and these wall members are connected together by an end wall 23D. A plurality of cutout portions 24h are provided in the end wall 23h and these cut-out portions 24h extend downwardly from the upper edges of the front wall 2| b and 22h so as to thereby provide relatively narrow strips or extensions 25h between adjacent cut-out portions of the housing. The housing 20h is adapted to be cut out from a blank as shown in Figure l5 which is bent along the scores 28o and 29h, thus providing the end wall 23h at one end of the housing. The back wall 22h is provided on the opposite longitudinal edges thereof with laterally projecting side wall members 34h and a score 35h is positioned between the side walls 34h and the adjacent edge of the back wall 22h along which the end wall 34h may be bent at right angles to the back wall 22h. A flap 36h is formed integral with each side wall 34h and a score 31h extends longitudinally of the side wall 34h and the inner end of the iiap 36h so as to facilitate bending of the fiap 36h. When in applied position, the flap 36h as shown in Figure 11 is adapted to be positioned against the front Wall 2lb. The inner or outer surface of the flap 36h may be adhesively secured to the adjacent face of the front Wall 2 lb.

At the opposite end of the back wall 22D a lower end wall 30D is provided and a score 3Ib denes the junction between the end wall 30h and the lower end of the back wall 22h. A flap 32h is formed integral with the bottom wall 30h and a score 33h is disposed between the adjacent edge of the lower end wall 30h and the inner edge of the flap 32h so that the flap 32h may be bent upwardly to lie fiat against the front wall 2lb where the flap is adhesively secured to the front wall. In the present instance the back wall 22h, the end wall 30h and the flap 32h are provided with rectangular openings 24e which are similar to the openings 24h so that when theend wall 30h and the flap 32h are bent to their normal position, the cut-out portion 24e will form guide strips 25e at the lower end of the housing 20h.

The front wall 2lb is provided with a plurality of transversely aligned window openings 38h and the back wall 22h is provided with a plurality of transversely aligned windows 39h which are adapted to register with the windows 38o. The housing 20h is provided on the interior thereof with a plurality of sliding cards 40h, each of which is provided with an elongated narrow tongue 32h similar to the tongue 42 and each card 40h is provided with indicia on the oppositie faces thereof adapted to be exposed through the windows 38h and 39h upon movement of a selected card 40h longitudinally of the housing 20h. The cards 40h are provided with openings 1lb similar to the openings 4I which are adapted to register with the openings 39b when the cards 40h are in their innermost position. In the present instance, one series of cards 40o have the tongues thereof extending through the cut-out portions 24h and another series of cards 40h have the tongues 42h thereof projecting in the opposite direction and through the cut-out portions 24e. A'I'he outer faces of the front and rear walls 2lb and 22o respectively are adapted to have indicia thereon similar to the indicia carried by the front and rear walls 2| and 22 which latter indicia is associated with and correlated with the indicia carried by the opposite faces of the cards 4Gb and also the opposite sides of the tongues 42h.

The housing 2Gb is provided on the interior thereof with a pair of parallel U-shaped channel members '10b which may be formed of metal and the opposite ends of the channel members or guides 10b abut against the end members generally designated as 16. The end members 'I6 as shown in Figure 16 are constructed in substantially tubular form will parallel opposite side portions Tl and inner and outer walls 18 and '19. The inner and outer walls 18 and 19 are each provided with cut-out portions 80 and the side walls 'l'l are also provided with cut-out portions 8l which are adapted to register with the cut-out portions 24h or 24e respectively.

In the use of this device, the device may be used for computing insurance rates, premiums and other data connected with insurance policies particularly in cases where more numerous data is required than can be accommodated by housing constructed as 20 or 20a, so that when a selected tongue 42 is pulled outwardly, the tongue 42 will show on the desired face thereof the age of the prospect and the adjacent side or face of the card 40 will show the ages, premium rates, settlement options, annuities and the dierent periods for particular policies with the rates for such periods. The housing may then be turned over and the data on the opposite side of the card 40 exposed through the window of the housing will show the desired incomes and other data necessary to a complete and full understanding of the terms of the policy. With a device of this kind the agent can very quickly and easily show the customer the exact conditions which appertain to particular terms and particular amounts, whereas in the past, it nas been necessary to obtain this information from different portions of a book.

It will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of this device for insurance computations as the device may also be used for other purposes for which calculations correlated to each other are used.

I claim:

l. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a housing including top and bottom walls, front and back walls provided with indicia on their outer faces and a pair of side walls, a yoke shaped reinforcing member of channelled shaped cross section arranged within the housing having its sides bearing against the inner faces of the walls of the housing and its bight bearing against the inner faces of said front, back and bottom, said housing being formed with a row of spaced parallel slots in said top wall, a set of confronting independently shiftable indicia carrying cards arranged within the housing and each provided with a tongue projecting from its upper end, said tongues being free of connection to each other, each passing through and permanently extended from one of said slots and carrying indicia for selected exposure through said slots at the front and back of the housing, said cards extending into and being guided by the sides of said member, means arranged in the bight of said member forming a support for and common to the lower ends of the cards, said front and back wall being formed with aligned horizontal rows of spaced windows for exposing selected indicia on said cards, a slip sheet disposed between the confronting faces of said cards, seating at one end on said support and provided with extensions at its other end for bearing against the inner face of said top wall, each of said sheets being formed intermediate its ends and lengthwise thereof with an elongated substantially diamond shaped opening of greater dimensions than the dimensions of a row of windows, each of said cards being formed with a horizontal row of spaced openings for registry with said windows when the card engages said support, the indicia on said cards being arranged below the openings in the cards, the indicia on said front and back walls being arranged above and below said windows, and said slip sheets having their openings registering with said rows of windows.

2. .in a calculating device a housing including front, back, upper, lower and a pair of side walls, said iront and back walls each being formed with a row of aligned spaced windows below and parallel with its horizontal median and with indicia on its outer face disposed above and below its windows, the windows of one row being directly opposite the windows of the other row, a set of facewise opposed independently vertically shir'table cards within the housing carrying selecta able indicia for exposure through said windows to correlate with indicia on the housing, each card having integral with its top edge an upwardly directed pulling tongue carrying selectable indicia for correlation with indicia on said housing, said housing being formed at its upper end with spaced openings for exposing selected indicia from a tongue on the upward pulling of the latter, said tongues extending upwardly through said openings and being free of each other, a yokeshaped reinforcing member of inwardly opening channel-shaped form arranged within the housing, said member having its bight bearing against the inner face oi' the lower portion of the housing and constituting a holder for a support, its

arms bearing against the inner faces of the front, back and side walls of the housing, overlapping said cards and forming guides for the latter and with the free ends of its arms bearing against spaced portions of the inner face of said upper wall, a support mounted in said bight common to and for limiting the extent of the downward shifting of said cards, each of said cards being formed with window forming means for registering with said rows of windows when the card is seated on said support, and a series of slip sheets arranged in said housing, alternately disposed in confronting relation with respect to all of the cards of said set and each formed centrally with an opening providing clearances for exposing selected indicia from said cards, said slip sheets corresponding in width to and being of greater length than said cards, seating at their lower ends against said support and having their upper end cutout to provide respectively clearances for the selected indicia on said tongues and forwardly directed spaced parallel projections for abutting other spaced portions of the inner face of said upper wall.

RALPH P. ROSS.

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