US2234341A - Data-revealing device - Google Patents

Description

March 11, 1941. l. GOLDNER DATA-REVEALING DEVICE Filed 001;. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [Ill/0]! fiafilmzm XWMMM ATTORNEYS IL r JHNURRY LEI] r March 11,

l. GOLDNER 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 1911 1998 9 127? 1:1 111117 1572 :11 .551? 1992 19:10 magi $51111? 8 1999 5 1999 1992 1999 16 APR. 11 19111 1917 11 on.

9 1999 95c FEB. 1999 20 ""1921 11911 29 21 JUN. 1999 29 19991929 19 29 1999 1919 17/ 1991 1 1 1J E' 2Z "19 & 19@ 10 9N. 1979 1959 7 1977 1991 1999 E 2??? lNVENTO R [516/0 6 fio/dnz I BY WXM M w! ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved data-revealing device which may function as a puzzle in order to revealin the hands of the initiated-information which will be bewildering and inexplicable to the uninitiated.

While the present invention may be employed in numerous different associations and in order to simultaneously furnish a variety of information such as, the .age, height, and weight of a certain person, the age of the inquirer, and the ages of his two parents, the two or three initials of the given and last names of any person, etc., it will be of particular utility when employed to give information such as the month, day of the month, and year of a birth or other event.

It is an object to furnish a unit of this character which may thus be employed for numerous different purposes but which in all of its embodiments will embrace a relatively compact set of individual elements or cards capable of manufacture at a nominal figure so that the unit may, for example, have associated with it advertising data and be given away or, if desired,

' may be sold for amusement and entertainment purposes.

A further object is that of furnishin a device of this type which will require no special skill for its manipulation so long as the person employing the same is initiated in its use; which comprises among others the exhibiting of cards bearing certain portions of the various data to be correlated and having the spectator indicate whether or not each card so presented does or does not contain data which comprises in part the total information which is to be assembled. It is only necessary that the person operating the puzzle obtain a yes or no answer from the spectator and it is apparent that the results achieved by such person will be extremely mystifying to those persons who are not familiar with the manner in which the unit functions.

Another object is that of constructing a datarevealing device embracing several elements and in which such elements when properly associated with each other will-as afore brought out-simultaneously reveal a multiplicity of data rather than a single item.

Still another object is that of providing a unit the several parts of which do not have to be arranged in any predetermined or carefully maintained sequence and in fact these parts will individually appear to be so diverse with respect to their individual components that even a careful observer will be unable to fathom how the ultimate results are achieved.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates in fragmentary form certain of the cards or elements which may form a part of the complete device or unit;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the envelope which is to receive these cards or elements;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of such elements in association with the envelope or receiver; and

Fig. 4 is a face view of a master card such as would be employed'in connection with a complete set of elements or cards.

As afore brought out, the present device is not limited in connection with revealing information .as to the day, month, and year of a given event, although it is likely that a large percentage of units constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention will primarily have in mind the providing of such data. Thus, in the annexed drawings and following description a device has been shown and described which primarily seeks to provide such particular information. Such illustration and description are accordingly to be taken in illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. Likewise, in Figs. 1 to 3 only a portion of a complete set has been illustrated with a view to avoiding unnecessary and in some respects a confusing illustration; it being hereinafter apparent to those skilled in the art, precisely the manner in which additional elements are to be constructed in order to pro- 1903 respectively. The second and sixth cards show the numerals I, 3, and 4, respectively, and the fourth and fifth cards bear the designations of the months January, March and April. It is to be understood that each one of these cards bears uponits front and rear faces similar data and each of the cards preferably has an upper or heading space or area H which may receive advertising or other desired data. If such data. is not desired, this space may be materially reduced or embody any desired configuration.

Likewise each of the cards is formed with a series of apertures l-2 which to even a discerning eye appear to be arranged in no particular sequence or order. However, as indicated by the reference numeral I3, each of the cards will have upon one of its faces a secret mark or indication. This may take any desired form and present an innocuous appearance such as would be the case if in small type there appeared on predetermined faces of the cards the legend Mfg. USA.

A master card may be conveniently furnished by having the same form a part of an envelope M as indicated in Fig. 2. If such a construction is restorted to, the forward face of the envelope is provided with a series of windows or apertures l5, one for each of the possible indications of data which might occur. The face of the latter card is furnished in the illustrated embodiment by the rear wall It of the envelope and this'rear wall is furnished, by imprinting or otherwise, with indicia, corresponding element for element with all of the indicia which may be embraced in, or capable of being revealed by a given device embodying the present invention. As is also apparent, both the cards and the envelope and/ or master card may be formed of any desired material or materials. I V The present invention depends upon the splittingor dividing process which producesthe desired data by means of the two system. In other words, all numbers are represented as the sum of the powers of two instead of by means of the decimal or ten system which represents all numbers as a sum of the powers of ten. Thus, referring to Fig. 4 wherein a master card has been illustrated which is to be furnished in connection. with a system to determine a given day, month, and year, it will be observed that 108 divisions are presently provided by an aggregation of abbreviations. l6 designating months, symbols ll designating years, and numerals l8 designating-individual days. This card will furnish an answer within the above limits from the years 1867 to 1930 inclusive. This amountsto 64 years to which is added 12 months making a'total of 76 and there are additionally provided 32 spaces for individual numbers such as l8. The reason for employing 32 numerals is that of course 31 numbers are necessary to represent the possible number of days in a month. However, up to the number 32 is present in order that such numbers may be split by-2 five times successively and in equal parts, i. e., 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1. In connection with the 64 years, it is necessary to splitthese 6 times in succession to arrive at a singledefinite year, while in connection with the months 4 operations which split, 16 numbers successively into equal parts are necessary in order to arrive at a given single designation. Thus, we have a total of 15 splitting op- 1 any particular sequence.

erations in order to arrive at a single given year, month, and day. Accordingly, in addition to the master card the particular set will include 15 cards, each one of which will be formed with sight apertures arranged in a -manner such that a definite splitting function is achieved.

At the same time itwill be understood that it will not be necessary to arrange these cards in sary will be to display the set of cards one after another to the person being interrogated.

In the event that the answer to questions propou'ndedshows that a'given year, day or month appears upon a particular card being displayed, that card will be arranged with the secret mark l3 uppermost. If the answer is in the negative, this front face of the card will be disposed dwn-,

jwardly. In this connection it is pointed out that as the 'cards'are stacked or'assembled, each of All that will be neces- I the cards pertaining to data outside their particular sphere have non-interfering sight apertures through which the data of other cards may be viewed. For example, the year cards have non-interfering sight apertures for each of the days and months appearing on the master card, while the month cards have non-interfering sight apertures for each of the days and years appearing on the master, and the day vcards have non-interfering sight apertures for each of the months and years appearing on the master card. It will thus be apparent that upon all cards having been properly stacked one upon the other and arranged upon the master, the desired answer will be displayed by the nonobscured portion of the latter.

This has been shown in simple fashion in Figs. 1, 2,and 3 in which the ultimate answer desired is January 3, 1903. The critical apertures have been indicated in dash lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and it will be seen that by facing the cards as shown in Fig. 1, those portions of the master card or back l6 which are not to be obscured by portions of one or more cards will in each instance fall in line with the apertures appearing on all cards. Accordingly as shown in Fig. 3 the desired result is displayed through the apertures N3 of the envelope. It will be borne in mind that the only thing the operator or demonstrator will have to be sure of is the facing of the cards inwardly or outwardly. This may be done in a very casualmanner and without, as is ordinarily necessary, having the upper edges of certain cards extend upwardly while others are arranged to extend downwardly. Aside from the elimination of this step which is apparent to even a casual observer, it is nevertheless apparent that by means'of the present invention a number of answers are simultaneously given rather than having the device limited to a single Of course, if a greater or lesser amount of questions are to be simultaneously answered,

answer the set of cards may be correspondingly increased or diminished in number.

To recapitulate and again review the construction and operation of the device in order that despite the elimination of unnecessary illustration the detailed construction of each card may be grasped-it is apparent that each card either in its'positiveor negative position leavesv exposed to View exactly one-half of the data which is'printed on the .master card and at the same time covers the other half of the data upon such master card. The function of exposing and covering data is accomplished by perforating the card and leaving unperforated the mate of this perforation. Mate refers to an identical area on the same side of the card either to the right or to the left of the perforation through a horizontal line on the face of the card. Thus, one perforation or opening and one area, unperforated, both equi-distant from the respective left and right edges of a given card, produce splitting of .data.

As afore brought out thisis accomplished by placing a card bearing these perforations and unperforated areas in proper'registrywith the top of the master card. The openings on each card present a confusing appearance to the eye. The openings applicable to each card are widely scattered and interspersed-with other openings whichifunction in connectionwith cards bear- .ing other data. In other wordsfifa given card refers to a year certain of the openings or apertures of that card are provided for the purpose of leaving unobscured the indicia designating, for example, days and months. Also, it will be understood that the master card will require no manipulation excepting only that the other cards will be superimposed thereon.

From the foregoing the construction of the apertured cards associated with the master card. of Fig. 4 may readily be visualized. For example: in connection with the cards bearing the year indicia, the first will obscure thirtytwo of the year designations appearing upon the card as shown in Fig. 4. The next card will cancel half of the remaining year imprintings; leaving unobscured sixteen yearly designations. Application of the next apertured card will, in turn, cancel half of these and the next card will divide the remainder in half; thus leaving four yearly indicia uncovered. Obviously, through application of two more cards, of this type, all will be obscured except the date of one year, which will be the one desired. The cards dealing with, for example, the days of the month and months of the year will be apertured to achieve the same functional results with respect to the indicia relating to their respective categories. It is thus apparent that there is no use- .ful purpose in illustrating in detail the set of cards for association with the master shown in Fig. 4. The precise construction of thesewill follow the structure and principles generally indicated in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be understood that among others the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to in order to provide for any desired type of answer or answer and without departing from the spirit of the claims.

I claim:

1. A data-revealing device including in combination, a master card, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, indicia formed on cards of the first set corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, indicia formed on the cards of the second set corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means associated with the individual cards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, and means associated with the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master card and all'of the indicia of the first set on the master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards.

2. A datarevealing device including in combination, a master card, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof and extending in the same direction and being decipherable from one given position, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, indicia formed on the cards of the first set corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, indicia formed on the cards of the second set corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master" card, means associated with the individual cardso'f the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, and means associated with the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portionof the related indicia. of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia of the first set on the master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards.

3. A data-revealing device including in com.- bination, a master card, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, indicia formed on the cards of thefirst set corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, indicia formed on the cards of the second set corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, apertures associated with individual cards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, and apertures associated with individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia of the first set on the master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards.

4. A data-revealing device including in combination, a master card, at least a first. set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof, extending in the same direction and being decipherable from one given position, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, indicia formed on the cards of the first set corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, indicia formed on the cards of the second set corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, apertures associated with the individual cards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card andall of the indicia of the second set on the master card, and apertures associated with the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the realted indicia of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia of the first set on the master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards.

5. A data-revealing device including in combination, a"master card, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, identical indicia formed on each of the cards of the first set on each of its faces and corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, identical indicia formed on each of the cards of the second set on each of its faces and corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means associated with the individualcards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, and means associated with the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master" adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, identical indicia formed on the individual cards of the first set on each of its faces corresponding to some ofthe indicia of the first set on the master card, identical indicia formed on; the individual cards of the second set oneach of its faces corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means associated with the individual cards of the first setto reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means associated with'the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia of the first set on the master card, and an inconspicuous mark associated with one only of the faces of said individual. cards to identify the manner in which each of said individual cards is to be arranged upon said master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards. 7

'7. A data-revealing device including in combination, a master card, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia upon the face thereof and extending in the same direction: and being decipherable from one given position, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, identical indicia formed on the individual cards of the first set on each of its faces corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card,,identical indicia formed on the individual cards of the second set on each of its faces corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, apertures carried by the individual cards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia. of the. first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, apertures carried by the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia; of the first set on the master card, and an inconspicuous mark associated with one only of the faces of said individual cardsvto identify the manner in which each of said individual cards is to be arranged upon said master card, whereby predetermined data on said master" card will be displayed through the individual cards. i 8. A data-revealing device including in combination, an envelope, a master card formed on the inner rear wall thereof, at least a first set and a second set of different indicia formed on the face of said master card, a first and second set of further cards, the individual cards of each set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, indicia formed on the cards of the first set corresponding to some of the indicia of the first set on the master card, indicia formed on the cards of the second set corresponding to some of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means carried by the individual cards of the first set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the first set on the master card and all of the indicia of the second set on the master card, means carried by the individual cards of the second set to reveal only a portion of the related indicia of the second set on the master card and all of the indicia of the firstset on the master card, and said envelope having means in its upper face to display data whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards and the upper face of the envelope.

9. A data-revealing device including in com- 7 bination, a master card having upon its face *1 a set of indicia extending in the same direction and being decipherable from one given position, a set of cards, the individual cards of said set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, identical indicia on each of the facesof each individual card and corresponding to some of the indicia on the master card, and means on each individual card to reveal only a portion of the indicia on the master card, whereby predetermined data on said master card will be displayed through the individual cards.

10. A data-revealing device including in combination, a "master card, a set of indicia formed upon the face thereof and extending in the same c direction and being decipherable from one given position, a set of further cards, the individual cards of said set being adapted to be superimposed upon said master card, identical indicia formed on each individual card on each of its faces corresponding to some of the indicia on the maSter 'card, and apertures carried by each individual card to reveal only a portion of the indicia on the master card, the apertures in each of said cards being arranged so that any 1 given card is perforated in one area and left unperforated in a corresponding area through a horizontal line in the face of such card, whereby predetermined data will be displayed through the individual cards.

ISIDORE GOLDNER.

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