US2687581A - Calculating device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31, 1954 w. WILLIAMS CALCULATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 1951 FIG. l.

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5oy es 5| e5 M A T U N ||L Ww W N E D L A w ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1954 UNITED STA-.TES PATENT OFFICE CALCULATING DEVICE Walden Williams, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 4, 1951, Serial N o. 245,053

9 Claims.

This invention has to do with calculating devices, and relates more particularly to a calculating device for use in teaching children such elementary mathematics as addition and subtraction, although it will be obvious that the device is capable of other uses.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this character which is capable of being used by children not only as an entertaining toy but also as a means of learning elementary mathematics.

A further and still more specific object is to provide in a device of this character simple and novel means by virtue of which, by moving a pointer to a given numeral, the answer to various other visually indicated problems will be denoted.

A still further object is to provide, in a device of this character an operating means which may be accomplished by an extremely economical and simple construction.

An additional object is to provide, in conjunction with the operating means, simple and eective means for preventing the movable tape element from shifting laterally in relation to its guide.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Without intending thereby to limit the broader scope of the invention, except as may appear from the appended claims, I shall no-w describe the invention in its presently preferred embodiment, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sections taken upon lines 2-2, 3 3, and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of pointer; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form of guide.

Referring now to the drawings, I show at 5 a box-like rectangular housing, which may be made of Wood, metal, chipboard or a suitable plastic, having end walls 6, 1, side walls 8, 9 and a bottom wall composed of sections I and I0a.

Bottom Wall section III is made relatively thick, and the bottom Wall sections are spaced apart to provide, through the bottom of the housing, a longitudinal medial slot I2.

The top surface of the bottom wall section I carries a longitudinal row of indicia I denoting, for instance, the numerals l to 20 inclusive. In applying said numerals it is my preference rst to print them upon a tape I4 and then secure the 30, and mount a resilient 2 tape to the top surface of bottom Wall'section I0 as by cementing the tape to the surface.

A rectangular guide member 2l) is secured at its outer side surface to the side Wall 9 as by a suitable cement, or in any other suitable manner, the guide being spaced above the bottom Wall section Illa. The inner side wall surface of the guide, together with the thickened portion of bottom Wall section I0, defines the upper portion of the slot I2.

A continuous flexible tape 30 extends around and is mounted to slide upon the guide 20. Indicia 40 is carried on the top surface of the tape, said indicia consisting of a row 4I of longitudinally spaced numerals l to 20 inclusive, which numerals progressively increase in value towards the left from a zero point e, and each of said numerals has before it a plus sign, i. e. denoted by the numeral 4I a. Also in linear relation to the indicia 4I, I provide indicia 45 comprising a row of numerals 1 to 20A inclusive, progressively increasing in value to the right from the zero point. Before each of the latter numerals I display a minus sign, i. e. denoted by the numeral 46.

A flat pointer 50 is secured to the top run of the tape at the Zero point as by staple 5 I, although any other suitable means may be used for fixing the pointer to the tape. The top surface of the pointer may carry the indicia ANS denoted by the numeral 52, thus indicating the answer. A longitudinal channel 53 is provided in the top surface of the guide 2U to receive the staple 5I used for attaching the pointer to the tape.

The free end of the pointer presents bifurcations 54 which are sufficiently spaced apart to straddle the respective answer indicia I5, the bifurcations overlying the top surface of bottom wall section IIJ.

For moving the tape longitudinally of the guide I provide an operating member 6I) in the form of a ilexible loop of a material such as string, fabric or plastic, the loop passing over the pointer and being tied into a knot 6I at its free ends after being passed downwardly through the slot I2, so that the loop projects below the slot where it may be accessible for convenient manual operation, the knot being larger than the width of the slot so as to prevent the loop from being accidentally moved into the housing.

To provide a cover for the housing, I provide a longitudinal inwardly opening groove in each side wall of the housing above the top surface of the bottom Wall section I0, and above the tape transparent sheet 66 by bowing the sheet and inserting its opposite side edges in the slots. The resiliency of the sheet maintains its edges in the slot. It is my preference to use a suitable plastic for the sheet 56.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that, for subtraction problems, the row of numerals 45 is employed in conjunction with the The numerals 4| are arranged in progression to the left of the pointer for addition problems. In operation, if the pointer is moved to register with the numeral 8 in the row I5, as shown, which denotes the answer, by reference to the remaining numerals on the tape in relation to the numerals l5, it will be seen that the answer 8 is the correct answer to the various addition and subtraction problems presented by registration of the numerals on the tape with the numerals l5. For instance, 9-l=8, 102=8, '7-|-l=8, 6+2=8, etc.

It is apparent that various other calculations are possible from the arrangement described; and it is also apparent that instead of running the numerals in each row from l to 20, additional numerals and fractions may be added.

In operation there is sometimes a tendency of the tape Si] to move laterally over its guide towards the top surface of bottom wall section IU. I nd that I am able eiiectively to prevent this by the simple modification of the pointer shown in Fig. 5, wherein the parts are as before described except that here the pointer ila is provided with an outwardly opening recess lil in each ci its opposite side edge portions to receive the loop 69 and therefore to prevent longitudinal movement of the pointer within the loop. Inasmuch as the loop depends through the slot, any tendency of the tape to move laterally will cause the loop to engage the opposite side wall of the slot l2 and arrest the movement.

In Fig. 6 I show, in cross-section, a modified form of guide Zta wherein a longitudinal tape passing channel 8i! is provided in the bottom surface of the guide.

It will be understood of course that I may make various modifications in the particular construction and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the broader scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a calculating device, a housing, stationary means in the housing presenting a longitudinal row of equidistantly spaced numerals progressively increasing in value irom'o'ne end of said means to the other, vmovable means mounted in the housing for sliding movement parallel with and relative to said stationaiy means, said movable means presenting two longitudinally spaced lineally aligned rows of like equidistantly spaced numerals, and a pointer carried by said moveable means between the latter rows of numerals and disposed for selective register with said first mentioned numerals; one of said rows of numerals on said movable means progressively increasing in value in one direction from said pointer and the other row of numerals on said movable means progressively increasing in value in the opposite direction from said pointer.

2. In a calculating device, a housing, stationary means in the housing presenting a longitudinal row of equidistantly spaced numerals progressively increasing in value from one end of said means to the other, movable means mounted in the housing for sliding movement parallel with and relative to said stationary means, said movable means presenting two longitudinally spaced numerals I 5.

4 lineally aligned rows of like equidistantly spaced numerals, and a pointer carried by said movable means between the latter rows o numerals and disposed for selective register with said first mentioned numerals; one of said rows of numerals on said movable means progressively increasing in value in one direction from said pointer and the other row of numerals on said movable means progressively increasing in value in the opposite direction from said pointer, and means projecting from said housing for moving said movable means relative to said stationary means.

3. In a device of the class described, a box like housing having bottom, side and end walls, said bottom wall 'having a medial longitudinal slot and presenting on its top surface, at one side of said slot, indicia denoting a series of longitudinally spaced numerals, a rectangular guide, means securing said guide in fixed position in said housing at the other side of said slot and spaced from the underlying portion of said bottom wall, a continuous flexible tape slidably mounted on said guide to move longitudinally thereof, said tape carrying indicia denoting a series of longitudinally spaced numerals arranged to register with said first named indicia. in response to movement of said tape, a pointer secured to said tape and extending across said slot into position overlying said first named indicia, and a flexible operating member secured to said pointer and extending downwardly through said slot to be movable therealong.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said pointer has opposed laterally opening recesses in its side edge portions; wherein said operating member is looped about said pointer and engages in said recesses; and wherein said operating member is disposed to engage a side wall of said slot.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said pointer has bifurcations projecting from its free end in position to straddle said first mentioned numerals when moved into register therewith in response to movement of said tape.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein that portion of the bottom wall which carries the rst named indicia is relatively thick enough to display said indicia in substantially the plane of the top surface of said guide.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein said side walls have opposed longitudinal grooves in their inner surfaces and wherein a transparent flexible sheet overlies said indicia and has its side edges yieldably engaged in said grooves.

8. In a calculating device, a stationary body and a second body mounted for movement parallel and relative to the stationary body; one of said bodies carrying a longitudinal row of equidistantly spaced numerals progressively increasing in value from one end to the other, and said other body presenting two longitudinally spaced aligned rows of like equidistantly spaced numerals disposed for selective register with said first mentioned numerals, one of the latter rows of numerals progressively increasing in value in one direction and the other of said rows progressively increasing in value in the opposite direction, a pointer carried by the one of said bodies which carries said lineally aligned rows of numerals, said pointer being positioned between said lineally aligned rows of numerals, and means for moving said second body.

9. In a calculating device, a longitudinally slotted housing, stationary means in the housing presenting a longitudinal row of equidistantly spaced numerals progressing in value fromone end of said means to the other, movable means mounted in the housing for sliding movement parallel with and relative to said stationary means, said movable means presenting two longitudinally spaced lineally aligned rows of like equidistantly spaced numerals, and a pointer carried by said movable means between the latter rows of numerals and disposed for selective register with said rst mentioned numerals; one of said rows of numerals on said movable means progressing in Value in one direction from said pointer and the other row of numerals on said movable means progressing in Value in the opposite direction from said pointer, and means projecting from said housing for moving said movable means relative to said stationary means, said latter means comprising a exible member attached to said movable means and projecting outwardly through said slot in said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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