US3698113A

US3698113A - Perpetual calendar

Info

Publication number: US3698113A
Application number: US132453A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lauren D Spicer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-08
Filing date: 1971-04-08
Publication date: 1972-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-17

Abstract

A substantially rectangular hollow case is connected at its respective ends with strap means encircling a user''s wrists. Cog wheels and rollers are journalled within respective end portions of the case on transverse axles for supporting superposed endless bands having calendar data printed thereon. Openings, formed in opposing surfaces of the case walls, expose calendar data on the endless bands when the bands are selectively positioned.

Description

United States Patent Spicer 1 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR [72] Inventor: Lauren D. Spicer, c/o Arthur Jaqua R.R. #1, Napoleon, Ohio 43545 [22] Filed: April 8, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 132,453

[52] US. Cl. ..40/118, 40/21 C, 40/86 [51] Int. Cl. ..G09d 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..40/107,l17,118, 334, 335, 40/21 C, 86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,619,923 11/1971 Bruner ..;...40/l 18 3,611,602 10/1971 Gandelrnan et al ..40/117 [451 Oct. 17, 1972 9/1970 Rieth ..40/1 17 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff Attorney--Robert K. Rhea [5 7] ABSTRACT A substantially rectangular hollow case is connected at its respective ends with strap means encircling a users wrists. Cog wheels and rollers are journalled within respective end portions of the case on transverse axles for supporting superposed endless bands having calendar data printed thereon. Openings, formed in opposing surfaces of the case walls, expose calendar data on the endless bands when the bands are selectively positioned.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 17 I972 LAUREN D. SPICER uwnvraa lll BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION arranged in columnar or chart form for determining calendar dates of past or future years, however, most of these chart-like calendars are of limited range and are not relatively easily used. In using such calendars it is usually necessary to follow lines or columns in order to match data a plurality of times frequently resulting in errors as well as being a tedious procedure. This cross referencing of information, which may not be readily available, has prevented this type of calendar from being generally accepted.

The present invention eliminates the inconvenience of not having such a calendar readily available and which eliminates matching cross referenced data by incorporating the calendar information on a plurality of case contained endless bands which may be worn in a wristwatch manner.

' 2. Description of the Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 1,940,859 discloses a 200 year calendar having years of centuries printed on a disk underlying a cover sheet and rotatably supported thereby with windows in the cover sheet indicating which of a plurality of master calendars are to be used for a particular year. U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,595 discloses a master calendar printed on the front of a container having windows in its front exposing years or centuries and positioning days of the week over the master calendar by selective positioning of a drum journalled, by the container having years or centuries and a plurality of rows of week day indicators printed around the periphery of the drum.

This invention is distinctive over these prior patents by arranging the calendar data on endless bands journalled within a hollow case wherein a selected calendar month is positioned within a window opening formed in the case according to a color code indicating the proper calendar setting for a series of years.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention employs a substantially rectangular hollow case having means at its respective ends for being worn by the user in wristwatch fashion. Axles extending transversely through respective end portions of the case journal sprockets and rollers having endless bands entrained therearound in superposed relation. Control means, on one of the axles, permits selective rotation of the endless bands positioning calendar month names and calendar month numerals printed on the bands within openings formed in opposing surfaces of the case. Week day indicators and years of decades are respectively printed or scored on opposing faces of the case. A repeating series of colors, printed on one of the endless bands, are exposed by one of the case openings and cooperates with the decade year indicators and a slide supported within the case for determining the color code indicating a particular year of a selected span of two decades of years in a selected century.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a compact perpetual calendar containing device which may be worn in wristwatch fashion and be readily available to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view inverted from the position shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, with the decade slide omitted;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an endless band forming member having calendar month days printed thereon;

FIG. 6 is a similar view of another endless band forming member having calendar month indicating names and arepeating series of color blocks printed thereon;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 6; and,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a decade year indicating a slide contained by the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the device, as a whole, comprising a generally rectangular hollow case 12 having flexible means, such as a buckle equipped strap or straps 14, secured to the case and adapted to surround a users wrist in wristwatch fashion. The case 12 is provided with

arcuate end walls

16 and 17 closing the respective ends of the case, a pair of

side walls

18 and 19 and top and bottom walls forming a front face and a

back face

20 and 21, respectively. The

side walls

18 and 19 may be formed separately from the end walls, top and bottom walls and joined thereto by screws, not shown, for ease in assembling the components contained by the case as described hereinbelow.

These

side walls

18 and 19 preferably project beyond the

end walls

16 and 17, respectively, to form pairs of ears 22 which are transversely apertured for receiving a pin 24 and connecting the straps l4 thereto.

The front face 20 is provided with a rectangular calendar month or days exposing window 26 and an elongated slot-like month name window 28 parallel with one side of the calendar window 26. Day of the week indicating letters 30 are printed or scored in the surface of the front face 20 along that side of the window opening 26 opposite the slot 28. A relatively small aperture or opening 32 is formed through the face 20 medially the length of the row of week day indicia 30 in place of the letter w for exposing a color code block as presently explained.

The bottom wall or back face 21 is similarly provided with an elongated longitudinally extending slot-like opening 34 adjacent the side wall 18 opposite the front face aperture 32. The back face 21 is provided with a longitudinal row of letters 36 parallel and coextensive with the back face slot 34 indicating a series of seven color blocks for the purposes presently explained. These letters, P, B, R, O, Y, G and B may be printed on a strip, not shown, and removably bonded to the case, if desired. The back face 21 is further provided with two series of numerals 1 through 9 printed on or recessed in the back face 21 in selective spaced-apart relation forming four longitudinal rows and seven transverse rows aligned with the series of color blocks appearing in the back face slot 34 for indicating the last numeral of a series of years spanning 2 decades.

Other openings

38 and 40 are formed through the back face 21 at the zero position beginning, respectively, at the first of the series of numerals and following the first numeral 9.

A pair of

axles

42 and 44 extend transversely through the respective end portions of the case 12. The axle 44 is journalled by bearings 46 secured to the

case walls

18 and 19 while the axle 42 is similarly journalled at one end by a bearing 48 on the case wall 19 and is secured, at its other end, to a control knob 52 outwardly of the case wall 18. A pair of

rollers

56 and 58 are coaxially secured to the

respective axles

42 and 44 within the case for rotation with the axles as hereinafter explained.

A pair of

sprocket wheels

60 and 62, each having a toothed periphery, are journalled by the axle 42 between the respective ends of the roller 56 and

respective side walls

18 and 19. The sprocket 60 is secured to the inwardly projecting end portion of a control wheel 54 having an axial portion extending through the side wall 18 for the reasons presently explained.

A similar pair of

sprocket wheels

64 and 66 are journalled by the axle 44 at the respective ends of the roller 58 adjacent the

respective side walls

18 and 19. Diametrically the pairs of sprockets 60-62 and 64-66 are slightly greater than the diameter of the

rollers

56 and 58 for the reasons readily apparent.

An endless inner band 68, preferably formed of relatively thin plastic material and preferably translucent,

having a width substantially equal to the length of the

rollers

56 and 58, is entrained around these rollers for movement in response to the rotation of the

axles

42 and 44. A plurality of letters 70, indicating l2 abreviated calendar months are arranged in transverse rows in selected longitudinal spaced relation along one side of the band 68 for cooperative positioning of the month indicating letters in the front face slot 28. Letters 72, preferably printed in another color, indicating February of a leap year, is similarly printed on the band 68 in a selected location in longitudinally aligned relation with the first named month letters 70.

The longitudinal marginal edge portion of the band 68 opposite the month designating letters is provided with a coextensive repeating series of seven juxtaposed color blocks 74. These colored blocks 74 are respectively lined for the colors purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and black in that order from left to right, as viewed in FIG. 6.

An endless outer band 76 similarly formed of relatively thin plastic material and preferably translucent having a transverse width slightly greater than the spacing between the pairs of sprockets 60-62 and 64-66 is provided, adjacent its respective marginal side edges, with a plurality of equally spaced apertures 78 for cooperative reception of the teeth of the sprocket wheels for rotating the outer band 76 in the manner and for the reasons presently explained.

Intermediate its width the outer band 76 has longitudinally printed thereon a repeating series of seven numerals indicating days of the month arranged in rows transversely of the band 76 in such order that any two adjacent numerals in each row differ by seven. The longitudinal and transverse length of the respective rows or month indicating numerals is such that the numerals indicating a selected complete month may be positioned and exposed by the calendar indicating window 26. Adjacent one of its marginal edges, spaced inwardly of the sprocket wheel slots 78, the outer band 76 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart apertures 80 cooperatively positioned with respect to the abreviated calendar month letters on the inner band 68 for exposing a selected one of the calendar month letters when the outer and inner bands are selectively moved relative to each other. These apertures are aligned with and exposed through the case face slot 28.

Relative movement between the inner and

outer bands

68 and 76 is limited by means interconnecting the two hands. This means comprises a substantially T- shaped prong 82, as viewed in FIG. 7, having the respective end portions of its head transversely disposed on the inner band 68 with its stern portion 84 integrally connected with the outer surface of the inner band. The stem 84 of the T-shaped lug is slidably received within an elongated slot-like aperture 86 formed in the outer band 76 parallel with the marginal edges thereof.

FlGure 8 illustrates a rectangular plate 88 having overall dimensions less than the dimensions of the case back face 21 and is longitudinally interposed between the inner surface of the back face 21 and adjacent surface of the endless outer band 76. The plate 88 is pro vided with a laterally projecting handle 90 at one end which is slidably disposed within a recess 92 longitudinally formed in the marginal edge portion of the back face 21 adjacent the side wall 19 and end wall 17 permitting longitudinal to and fro movement of the plate 88. The surface of the plate 88 facing toward the inner surface of the back face 21 is provided with two longitudinally extending parallel rows of odd and even numerals, respectively, designating years and visible, respectively, through the

apertures

38 and 40 in the case back face 21 for cooperating with the two decade years series of two rows of numerals (1 through 9) as the plate 88 is selectively positioned, with respect to the decade years numerals, for determining the color code for the year selected as hereinafter explained.

As an aid to the user a plurality of color codes, not shown, for selected decades of a century may be printed as a key and removably attached to one surface of the case.

OPERATION The odd and even numbers on the decade slide 88 appearing in the zero position holes 38 and 40 on the back face 21 represent decades while the two rows of numerals (1 through 9) engraved on the back face 21 represent individual years. This permits ascertaining the color code for each year of any two chosen decades for locating calendar dates in the calendar window 26 by first positioning the proper color code for a particular year in the aperture 32 on the case face 20. The color code for a particular year and for two decades is obtained by positioning the decade slide 88 so that the numerals indicating any two selected decades appear in the zero position holes 38 and 40 on the case back 21. For example, by trial and error, move the calendar and

month code bands

68 and 76 to the left or right, by the control wheel 54 or knob, until any month desired of any year and any date of that month is positioned as to the day of the week in the calendar window 26. The color code then visible through the case front face opening 32 is the color code for that month and the entire year. January of the succeeding year is the next color code to the right in the series of colors. The case 12 is inverted and the calendar and month code bands 68 and 75 are moved until the color found for the above year is located in alignment with the particular year numerical, as found above, engraved on the the case back face 21. The series of seven color blocks 74 then appearing in the color code locating window 34 on the case back face 21 may be then read, from left to right, by matching color blocks with the transverse columns of years. For example, in finding the color codes for the two decade years from 1960 to 1980, the decade slide 88 is positioned so that the

numerals

6 and 7 appear in the case back face 21 zero

position openings

38 and 40, respectively. Position the calendar band 76, by the control wheel 54, so that a 31 day month appears in the calendar window 26 in the case front 20, by trial and error, until the numeral 1 is aligned with the symbol T for the day of the week Tuesday. Since Dec. 1, 1970, began on Tuesday, the month band 68 is rotated individually of the calendar band 76, by the control wheel 54, so that the letters indicating December appear in one of the calendar band openings 80. The calendar and color code band 68 is then moved until the blue color block appears over the decade numeral 7. The color code for the two decade years 1960 and 1980, appearing in the color code window 34, reading from left to right, are purple, black, red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Any year of these two decades 1960 to 1980 may now be observed in the calendar back face 21, for example, the color code for 1971 is purple. Any calendar date for 1971 may be learned by positioning one of the purple color blocks in the case front face code window 32 with the desired number of days of the month being positioned within the calendar window 26 and the letters indicating the selected month appearing in the calendar band opening 80.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.

I claim:

1. A wrist band perpetual calendar, comprising:

a generally rectangular hollow case having end walls,

side walls, and front and back walls, said front and back walls forming a front face and a back face, respectively, said front face having window openings;

flexible means connected with the respective ends of said case for encircling the wrist of a user;

roller and sprocket means journalled within said case adjacent its respective ends;

inner and outer endless bands entrained around said roller and sprocket means, respectively, in superposed relation and extending the full width between said side walls, said inner band having indicia printed thereon in longitudinally spaced relation indicating months of the year,

said outer band being translucent and having a repeating series of seven numerals representing days of the month, printed thereon in transverse parallel rows in such order that any two aligned numerals in adjacent rows differ by seven, said numeral indicia being selectively visible through one of said windows,

said outer band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures mating and mismating with said month indicating indicia in response to relative longitudinal movement between said bands, said months indicia being selectively visible through another of said windows; and,

lug means interconnecting said bands by means of cooperating slots so as to permit limited longitudinal movement of each said band with respect to the other.

2. The perpetual calendar according to claim 1 in which said roller and sprocket means includes:

an axle extending transversely through the respective end portion of said case;

an elongated roller on each said axle;

a pair of sprockets on each said axle at the respective ends of said rollers; and,

control means for selective manual rotation of at least one said roller and one said sprocket independently of each other.

3. The perpetual calendar according to claim 2 in which said control means includes:

a knob coaxially secured to one end portion of said one axle; and,

a control wheel surrounding an outwardly projecting end portion of one said axle and connected with one said sprocket.

4. The perpetual calendar according to claim 2 in which said outer band is provided with a relatively narrow slot extending longitudinally a distance slightly less than the spacing between a selected pair of month indicia exposing apertures; and,

a T-shaped lug secured to the outer surface of said endless band and projecting through said narrow slot.

5. The perpetual calendar according to claim 4 in which said inner band is provided with a repeating series of seven color blocks printed on its outwardly disposed surface along one of its marginal edge por tions,

said front face having an opening; successively exposing one of the color blocks as said inner band is rotated,

said back face having an elongated slot successively exposing a series of seven of the color blocks; and,

a slide means within said back wall and adjacent thereto, said slide means cooperating with the color blocks for determining the setting of said endless bands relative to each. other in said front face openings for indicating the days of a selected month by manipulating the color block arrangement to permit matching of the colors.

Claims

1. A wrist band perpetual calendar, comprising: a generally rectangular hollow case having end walls, side walls, and front and back walls, said front and back walls forming a front face and a back face, respectively, said front face having window openings; flexible means connected with the respective ends of said case for encircling the wrist of a user; roller and sprocket means journalled within said case adjacent its respective ends; inner and outer endless bands entrained around said roller and sprocket means, respectively, in superposed relation and extending the full width between said side walls, said inner band having indicia printed thereon in longitudinally spaced relation indicating months of the year, said outer band being translucent and having a repeating series of seven numerals representing days of the month, printed thereon in transverse parallel rows in such order that any two aligned numerals in adjacent rows differ by seven, said numeral indicia being selectively visible through one of said windows, said outer band having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures mating and mismating with said month indicating indicia in response to relative longitudinal movement between said bands, said months indicia being selectively visible through another of said windows; and, lug means interconnecting said bands by means of cooperating slots so as to permit limited longitudinal movement of each said band with respect to the other.

2. The perpetual calendar according to claim 1 in which said roller and sprocket means includes: an axle extending transversely through the respective end portion of said case; an elongated roller on each said axle; a pair of sprockets on each said axle at the respective ends of said rollers; and, control means for selective manual rotation of at least one said roller and one said sprocket independently of each other.

3. The perpetual calendar according to claim 2 in which said control means includes: a knob coaxially secured to one end portion of said one axle; and, a control wheel surrounding an outwardly projecting end portion of one said axle and connected with one said sprocket.

4. The perpetual calendar according to claim 2 in which said outer band is provided with a relatively narrow slot extending longitudinally a distance slightly less than the spacing between a selected pair of month indicia exposing apertures; and, a T-shaped lug secured to the outer surface of said endless band and projecting through said narrow slot.

5. The perpetual calendar according to claim 4 in which said inner band is provided with a repeating series of seven color blocks printed on its outwardly disposed surface along one of its marginal edge portions, said front face having an opening successively exposing one of the color blocks as said inner band is rotated, said back face having an elongated slot successively exposing a series of seven of the color blocks; and, a slide means within said back wall and adjacent thereto, said slide means cooperating with the color blocks for determining the settinG of said endless bands relative to each other in said front face openings for indicating the days of a selected month by manipulating the color block arrangement to permit matching of the colors.