US2447807A - Calendar having folding, adjustable date elements slidably receivable in supporting frame - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1948. H. LATHROP 2,447,807

CALENDAR HAVING FOLDING, ADJUSTABLE DATE ELEMENTS `SLIDABLY RECEIVABLE IN SUPPORTING FRAME Filed April 1o, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR 27 Harvey LahfO/O BY ATTRNEY SLIDABLY RE Filed April l0, 1945 GEIVABLE IN SUPPORTING FRAME NTS 2 SheeiS-Sheet 2 JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE '33 5b '55 l 5 `56 5'? @srfg 3- 46 q 2 37 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 579 1540, j 4A `I'rkZ-IQ ,42,46 a5, 44,

L I u 55' 32 35 r1, .2. 36 57 38 l I l .l I 2/ 3 :5 I6 f7 I 2` 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Io II I2 I3 I4 9 I6 II I2 I3 I4 I5 I6 I7 .I8 I9 2o 2| I6 I7 I8 I9 2o 2| 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 23306245. 25 26 27 3229 so aI 6.1 6,2 6,3 64 @l llq'lene'v 68 69 go 7J 7,2 7:5 I/ 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 lI 4 5l 6 7 8 9 Io II I2 I3 I4 9 Io II I2 I3 dI4 I5 I6 I7 I8 I9 2o 2I I6 I7 I8 I9 2o 2| 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 233 24 25 l26 27. 26 29 5o l 77 82 80. 82 INvENToR Halfweg Lai/wop Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFiCE CALENDAR HjAvING FOLDING, ADJUSTABLE DATE ELEMENTS SLIDABLY RECEIVABLE IN SUPPORTING FRAME v'HarveyLathroln ForestHills, N. Y.

Application April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,515

(Cl. l-119.)

4 Claims.

fMy present invention relates generally to calendars, and`r has particular reference to the type of calendar device which i's-adjustablein such a way that its utility is not limited to any particularfperiod of time.

AIna perpetual-calendar ofthe kind to which my invention is primarily applicable, a means is provided 'for displaying a month designation in association with a series of well-known calendartype columns'in which vintegers are arranged in weekly sections, i. e., each column having a series of numbers increasing by increments of seven. Coupled with these columnar markings is a relatively 'fixed heading which designates theseven days of the week. By adjusting the columnar markings so as to bring then-umher l under or in alignment with a selected 'day of the week, any desired arrangement of days may be depicted.

This general idea is well-known per se, and the objectives of my present invention are directed solely to an improved construction and arrangement of parts whereby a number of new advantages are achieved.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a device which is unusually compact, composed of relatively few and simple structural elements, easy to adjust in the contemplated fashion, and highly attractive in appearance. 'More particularly, my invention aims to provide a device which is substantially flat, hence useful in `a variety of practical embodiments; and whose manufacture lendsitself readilyito the employment of numerous different materials of ornamental character.

As in many of the devices heretofore known, the present structure comprises, in essence,.at least one element which may be dei'nedas a dateindicating element, and a supporting frame with which the `element is adjustably associated. A feature of the present invention resides `in the provision of this date-indicating element in the form of hingedly-interconnected sections arranged in side-by-side relationship,.eachsection being relatively rigid, and each .hinge `being of such character that any selected'sectiondmay be folded back ilatwise against its adjacentxsection. In'this way, a doubling under of certain selected sections results inr the formationofan adjusted flat unit of reduced'lengthdisplayingonits eX- posed face only a` selected .group of sections. Moreover, the hinges'are so constructed that each section .maybe folded back either forwardly or rearwardly, thereby rendering-v ihoth :faces luseful to bear date markingsy of the character desired, and.' permittinga relatively large' numbero `dis- 2 play Ivariations to fbe achieved in a relatively small space.

.The lframe of the present device=has a recess adapted snugly to `accomrnodate the Aflat unit referred to, and therecess Ilength is preferably equal to at leastone-halfthe over-all'length 4of the sectional element,'whe1'eby the latter is at alltimes, and in all adjusted conditions'thereof, of predetermined two-ply thickness, the recess having a corresponding depth.

The 'preferred structureincludes two date-indicating elements, one 'fortl-Ie 'month designations', `the other for thefcolumnar-desgnations. Where one or moresuch elements are employed, at least one ofsaid l-el'ementsis composed of separa-te strips "of rigid `flat' stock, andthe hinges are composed of relatively thin flexible `sheet material, interconnecting said strips. Preferably, the sectional element comprises a ,belt of flexible sheet material with the rigid strpssecured thereto in slightly spaced side-by-side relationshi'p. In oneembodiment, there is one set of strips securedfto one surface vof the belt, and a` second registering set secured to the Iopposite surface thereof. 'In an alternativeembodiment, the belt is composed of twoplies secured together Aalong the `hinge lines and forming pockets beknobs, and other extraneous-elements of funda-` mentally unattractive character.

`I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exempliedin the accompanying drawings, inV which:

vFigure lis a perspective View of a calendar device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2is a fragmentary perspective View si-milar to `Figure l, with a-.portion ofthe frame removed toreveal the element ubeneath;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional: view taken substantial-ly along the line 3-3 of Figure 1*;

Figure '4 is a .cross-sectional' view taken substantially along the line 4,-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is an obverse view of the month-designating sectional element;

Figure 6 is a reverse view of the same;

Figure 7 is an edge view of the same;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of said element shown in an adjusted position different from that of Figures 1-3 Figure 9 is an obverse view of the main sectional element;

Figure 10 is a reverse view thereof; and

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view through a modified type of sectional element.

'In the embodiment herein chosen for illustration, a substantially rectangular frame 20 is adapted to accommodate the two adjustable sectional elements 2| and 22, the former being shown by itself in Figures 9 and 10, the latter being shown by itself in Figures 5-8.

The frame may be composed of any suitable rigid material, such as plastic, Wood, metal, or the like, and it may assume a variety of different structural forms. Merely for illustrative purposes, I have shown the frame composed of a back wall 23, and thickened forwardly-extending margins 24, and 26, the margin 25 being arranged along the bottom edge of the frame, and the margins 24 and 26 being arranged along the sides. These margins are provided with an inwardlyfacing groove 2'| which defines a recess of predetermined depth within which the sectional elements 2| and 22 are accommodated. Access to the recess is afforded through the upper edge portion of the frame, and after the parts are in the relationship shown in Figure 2, a separable frame portion 28 is inserted downwardly through the upper portion of the device. The frame portion 28 has lateral projections 29 which flt into the grooves 21, yand a face portion provided with a recess 30. The frame portion 28 is also provided with the fixed designations 3|, representing the seven days of the week.

The sectional element 22 is composed of a web or belt 32 (see particularly Figure 7) which may be of any suitable relatively thin ilexible material such as fabric or the like. Secured to one face of this belt are a series of relatively rigid strips 33--38 arranged in slightly spaced side-by-side relationship. Secured to the opposite face of the belt 32 are a corresponding series of rigid strips 39-44, the strip pairs being respectively in registry so that the resultant element is composed of hingedly-connected rigid sections. The portions of the belt 32 which lie between the rigid sections of the element are hinges, and are of such a character that each section may be freely folded back to lie flatwise against the adjacent section. Moreover, this adjustment is possible either forwardly or rearwardly, so that both surfaces of the sectional element may be employed for the reception of suitable date markings. The markings on the element 22 are the twelve months of the year, as shown most clearly in Figures 5 and 6.

As illustrations of the varied adjustability of this element, attention is directed to a comparison lof Figures 2 and 8. In Figure 2, the section bearing the strip 33 has been folded back rearwardly along the hinge line 45, and the section bearing the strip 31 has been folded back along the hinge line 46, thus forming a two-ply ilat unit in which the strips 34, and 36 are exposed for- Wardly.

In Figure 8, on the other hand, the parts have been adjusted along different hinge lines so that the strips 38, 33 and 34 are exposed forwardly.

By similar adjustments, any desired strip may be centrally positioned in the resultant flat unit, and may thus be caused to show through the aperture 30. Obviously, if the aperture 30 is laterally positioned, rather than in the central disposition shown, a correspondingly different month designation will show through. In any case, any desired month may be caused to show through the aperture 3U, and in each adjusted condition of the sectional element, the six sections are arranged in the compact relationship shown. This compacted unit, it will be observed, is of reduced length with respect to the over-al1 length of the sectional element (Figures 5-7), and thev recess in the frame is of such a length that it will snugly accommodate this unit.

The other sectional element 2|, shown most clearly in Figures 3, 9 and 10, is similarly constructed, except that the rigid strips are elongated in a vertical direction, and bear number designations in well-known columnar fashion. More particularly, a belt 41 of relatively thin flexible sheet material is secured to a series of rigid strips 48460 mounted on its front face in slightly spaced side-by-side relationship, and carries on its rear face a second set of registering rigid strips lil-13. This results, as before, in forming a series of adjacent rigid sections interconnected by hinges Which permit any selected section to be folded down, either forwardly or rearwardly, into ilatwise relationship to the adjacent section.

In adjusting the element 2| to fit the frame 20, s, selected group of seven adjacent sections is caused to face forwardly, and the proper selection depends upon the month which is sought to be depicted. For example, if the month has thirtyone days and the first of the month falls on a Sunday, the sections 54--60 are exposed forwardly, the other six sections being folded rearwardly along the hinge line 'i4 (Figure 9) to lie in a rearward layer. Or, if the month has thirty days, and the first of the month falls on a Monday, the sections (i6-l2 will be caused to face forwardly, the other sections being folded rearwardly along the hinge lines 15 and 16 respectively (see Figure l0.) In the particular month depicted in Figures 1-3, it is the sections 50--56 which are directed forwardly, the remaining sections lying in the rear as shown most clearly in Figure 3.

Here, too, it will be observed, the resultant flat unit is of reduced length with respect to the overall length of the sectional element (Figures 9-10) and the recess in the frame has a length adapted to accommodate this unit.

In the illustrated device, the adjustment of the parts is accomplished by removing the frame portion 28, removing the sections 2| and 22, adjusting the section 2| into the desired two-ply relationship and reinserting it endwise into the frame, adjusting the section 22 into the desired two-ply relationship and inserting it into the frame, and then finally replacing the frame portion 28. This having been accomplished, the device presents to view a flat and compact calendar for the selected month, and may be supported on any suitable base or prop, or may lie flat on a table or other support. Because of its neatly at nature, it may be readily associated with other accessories, as a desk pad, or the like. By virtue of the present structural design, the various rigid panels may be composed of highly polished plastic, metal, or other ornamental material, thus not necessarily requiring any protective cover.

Needless to say, the frame may be constructed in a variety of ways other than that shown herein.

As an alternative way of constructing one or both of the adjustable sectional strips, I have shown in Figure 11 the possibility of employing a belt composed of the two plies 'l1 and 18. These two plies are of relatively thin flexible sheet material, are secured together along the hinge lines 19, 80, 8|, etc., and form pockets between the hinge lines within which rigid strips 82 may be `accommodated. In this case, the rigid strips 82 are not exposed to view, and may be composed of less expensive, non-ornamental material, while the belt material will be chosen for its ornamental value. This material may be, for example, ornamental leather, flexible plastic, a suitable fabric, or the like.

The securement of the strips to the belt material, both in the form shown in Figure 7 and that shown in Figure l1, may be achieved by adhesive means or otherwise, as may be desired. Along the hinge lines of Figure 11, the two plies 'of the belt may be secured together by adhesive means, by stitching, or otherwise.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a so-called perpetual calendar device which is devoid of unattractive bulkiness, which is unusually compact and attractive, and which lends itself admirably to the employment of various ornamental materials which contribute to an over-al1 appearance which is pleasing and of esthetic value.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an adjustable calendar device, a monthindicating element comprising a series of hingedly-connected rigid sections bearing different month markings thereon, the hinges being of such character that any section may be folded back to lie natwise against its adjacent section, whereby the doubling-under of selected sections will form an adjusted at unit of reduced length displaying on its exposed face only a selected group of month markings, a supporting frame comprising a rear wall and grooved side walls, said fiat unit being removably insertable endwise into said grooves, for snug accommodation in the region between them, and a removable shield adapted to overlie said accommodated unit and provided with an aperture revealing only one of said month markings.

2. In an adjustable calendar device, a monthindicating element comprising a series of hingedly-connected rigid sections bearing differl ent month markings thereon, the hinges being of such character that any section may be folded back to lie atwise against its adjacent section, whereby the doubling-under of selected sections will form an adjusted flat unit of reduced length displaying on its exposed face only a selected group of month markings, a supporting frame comprising a rear wall and grooved side walls, said at unit being removably insertable endwise into said grooves, for snug accommodation in the region between them, and a removable shield adapted to overlie said accommodated unit and provided with an aperture revealing only one of said month markings, said hinges allowing each section to be folded back either rearwardly or forwardly, whereby both surfaces of said sectional element may be used for said month markings, said element comprising six sections and said recess having a depth equal to at least twice the thickness of each section and having a length equal to half the over-all length of said sectional element.

3. In an adjustable calendar device, a dateindicating element comprising a series of hingedly-connected vertically elongated rigid sections arranged in side-by-side adjacence and bearing calendar-type successive columns of integers, each section bearing on its face only a single column of said integers, the hinges being of such character that any section may be folded back to lie flatwise against its adjacent section whereby seleted sections may be doubled under to form a at unit displaying on its exposed face a selected group of at least seven adjacent columns, and a supporting frame comprising a rear wall and grooved side walls, said at unit being removably insertable endwise into said grooves for snug accommodation in the region between them with seven of said columns forwardly exposed to view.

4. In an adjustable calendar device, a pair of date-indicating elements each of which comprises a series of hingedly-connected rigid sections, the sections of one of said elements bearing different month markings thereon, the sections of the other of said elements bearing calendartype columns of integers, there being one column on each section, the hinges of each of said elements being of such character that any section may be folded back to lie flatwise against its adjacent section, whereby the doubling-under of selected sections of each element will form two adjusted flat units of reduced length, one unit displaying on its exposed face only a selected group of month markings, the other unit displaying on its exposed face only a selected group of seven adjacent columnar markings, a common supporting frame having opposed grooves adapted to snugly accommodate said adjusted flat units in side-by-side relation, and a removable shield adapted to overlie the accommodated unit bearing month markings and provided with an aperture revealing only one of said month markings, said shield bearing a row of symbols designating the seve-n days of the week and arranged in alignment, respectively, with said seven exposed columnar markings.

HARVEY LATHROP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 209,122 Hibbard Oct. 22, 1878 687,425 Dill Nov. 26, 1901 726,979 OMara May 5, 1903 865,871 Cox Sept. 10, 1907 1,429,096 Pethick Sept. 12, 1922 1,494,792 Lichter May 21, 1924 1,527,382 Snyder Feb. 24, 19-25 2,126,538 Dencklau Aug. 9, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 848,522 France Jan. 6, 1939 137,394 Germany Oct. 31, 1901

Images