US2686985A - Calendar - Google Patents

Description

M. M. SHORE Aug. 24, 1954 CALENDAR Filed Nov. 9, 1950 2 Shets-Sheet 1 J U N E INVENTOR MORRIS M SHORE ATTORNEY M.M.SHORE Aug. 24, 1954 CALENDAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1950 ITGEI I'lllllllk ml 5 W P" M 3% M n 6. MA, 2, Om M Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CALENDAR Morris M. Shore, New York, N. Y. Application November 9, 1950, Serial No. 194,789

The present invention relates to calendars and in particular to that class of calendar having ad-' justable parts, to be useful over a plura y of years. This type of changeable calendar is commonly termed a perpetual calendar even though it may function for a finite period of years soas not to be strictly perpetual.

Perpetual calendars are known in which a movable chart of day-of-the-month numerals is supported behind a rectangular frame or mask having seven vertical columnar divisions, identifled with the days of the week. Such calendars have been of limited value because of the objectionable feature that the dates in the Sunday column have had the same appearance as the dates in the other columns for the remainder of the week. In contrast, the usual expendable calendar pages generally have red numerals for Sunday dates and black numerals for the remainder of the week. An object of the present invention is to provide a changeable calendar of such construction and arrangement that the Sunday dates will have an appearance contrasting with the week-day dates.

A further difficulty connected with perpetual calendars is that deliberation, including reference to a table, has heretofore been required for setting the first day of the month in proper position within the day-of-the-week frame. For example, if a given month is to start on a Wednesday, it is necessary to move the day-of-the-month chart so that the numeral 1 appears in the Wednesday column. However, to learn what setting is proper, it has heretofore been necessary to referto a table or other awkward form of instruction requirin a degree of concentration. Where such deliberation is involved there can be no inherent, prominent, obvious signal given of improper setting. If one were to disturb the adjustment of a known form of changeable calendar inadvertently, there would be no obvious notice of the wrong setting. On this basis, there can be no reliance on such a calendar.

Accordingly, a further object of the present invention is to provide for assured correct setting of the date-of-the-month chart within the dayof-the-week frame for each new month, and to provide obvious warning of misadjustment. In addition, the present invention provides various physical structures in changeable calendars for combining the distinctive display of Sunday dates with a specially effective means guiding the setting of the first-of-the month in the proper 19 Claims. (Cl. 40-418) day-of-the-week column. In another aspect, the

present invention is concerned with novel arrangements of parts representing several individually distinctive forms'of changeable or perpetual calendars.

The various aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and further novel features and purposes or the invention will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure of several illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the front elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the invention and Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view thereof along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a development of the date-of-themonth chart used in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section of a second embodiment of the invention having internally modified structure but having the same external appearance as the device in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is the front elevation of a further embodiment of various aspects of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 in Fig. 7;

Fig.7 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view along the line 1-l in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of an additional embodiment of certain aspects of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a form of perpetual calendar is shown having a case ll] of rectangular cross-section suitably secured to a base 12. A date-of-the-month chart in the form of strip M has its ends secured to a pair of knobcontrolled spindles l6 and I8, respectively. Integral portions I9 of case H] are bent inwardly to serve as bearings for spindles I6 and I18 and to support vertical guide or rod '24 described below. Case Ill has a day-of-the-week frame 20, at the top of which is a series 22 of day-of-the-week indicia. In this illustrative form, the first column represents Sunday, but the invention is equally applicable to arrangements in which the final column represents Sunday dates.

In Fig. 3 the date-of-the-month strip 14 is shown having one set of dates Ma on the front surface thereof, and a second set of dates [4b at the rear thereof. The numerals in strip Ma are seen to contain several duplicates, whereas there is no duplication in the set 14?). Numerals I40, and [4b are to be of contrasting appearance. Conveniently, numerals l4a are printed in black or dark color, and numerals Mb in red. Strip I4 is wound clock-wise (looking down as in Fig. 2) on both of the spindles l6 and I 8, the strip being directed about rod or guide 24 in the Monday 3 column so that the strip is guided to lie flat behind frame 20 in the Monday to Saturday columns, and the numerals I la. are exposed through the frame in this region. The reverse surface of strip M is exposed in the Sunday column through frame 20 and thus the contrasting characters Mb appear in the Sunday column. The black characters [4a are arranged as follows:

The red numerals Mb are arranged as follows:

The diameter of spindle l6 and other dimensions are proportioned so that the numerals Mb in the Sunday column form a continuous numerical sequence with the contrasting numerals Ila. By manipulating either spindle It or 18 in the direction to wind the strip, the month can be arranged to start on any day of the week, the first-of-the-month being shown as a Friday in the setting of Fig. 1. As the first day of the month moves from one day-of-the-week column to the next, the other dates in the columns Monday to Saturday change, and the Sunday dates are automatically changed to complete the date sequence exposed by frame 20.

An additional pair of spindles 26 and 23 are shown extending horizontally across the top of case [0, the lower spindle being directly behind slot 30 so as to expose a month-and-year chart in the form of strip 32. By providing a strip of proper length, the calendar can be adapted to function over any desired period of years. Slot 3B is at least the horizontal extent of the seven day-of-the-week columns and is as close as is practical to opening 20. In each line of strip 32 containing a month designation, there is provided an index, as in the form of one or more arrows 33, in the day-of-the-week column where the month strip should display the first of the month. Each first of the month on the date-ofthe-month chart I l also carries an index or pointer 35, or the numeral itself can be fashioned as an index. The two pointers 33 and 35 on the two charts are in alignment when the chart M is set properly, and misalignment of the pointers furnishes prominent notice of misad justment.

The month and year strip also includes a number serving as a reminder of the number of the days in that particular month (30 for June 1951) because the date-of-the-month strip l4 here displays numerals 1 to 31, inclusive, ir-

respective of the month displayed in frame 30.

In Fig. 4 a modified construction is shown, which is like that of Fig. 1 in all other respects, but has an endless strip I4. Spindle l8 of small diameter, and spindle 16' of larger diameter act with rods 24' to support endless band I4 that carries the two sets of contrasting numerals 14a and Mb with the latter exposed in the Sunday column through frame 20 in case Ill. Unlike the strip in Fig. 1, the strip in Fig. 4 has both sets of numerals on the same surface. The

numerals Ma are the same as numerals Ma, but numerals Mb are as follows:

Strip [4 is tensioned in any convenient way as by making one of the rods 24' adjustable transversely. 'The embodiment of Fig. 4 demonstrates a latitude of possibilities of using the constrasting Sunday aspect of the present invention. By virtue of its simplicity and compactness, however, the embodiment of Fig. '1 is seen to be of special merit.

Aspects of the invention in the foregoing embodiments are also included in the embodiment of Figs. 5-7, which however includes certain additional features of novelty. The changeable calendar in this embodiment includes a case 58 having a rectangular aperture 52 for displaying the day-of-the-month numerals in the seven columns 54 designated S M T W T F S. In this instance, as in the others, the characters in the first or Sunday column are in red to contrast with the characters in the remainder of the columns. The day-of-the-month characters are all displayed on the same side of a strip 56 having its ends secured to a horizontal slideable frame that is guided by overhanging hook portions 58a to slide horizontally along plate 50 that is suitably fixed at its ends to the side walls of case til. Contrasting strip portions 55a and. 5% are arranged on one surface of strip .56 and are arranged as in the embodiment of Fig. 4. These strip portions extend toward the line dividing the Sunday-Monday columns and both strip portions extend rearward through the opening 581) in frame 58 and through slot 63a in plate 59.. To the rear of plate 63 strip 56 extends in opposite directions to the lateral edges of a horizontally movable card 62 about which the strip is tensioned. Strip 5&3 is fixed against sliding relative to the rear surface of card 62 by adhesive. The length of card 62, horizontally, is ap proximately the same as the horizontal dimension of frame 52. The lateral edges or" card .62 are slanted divergently so as to tighten strip 56 as the card is forced vertical-1y into place.

In operation, frame 58 is manually slid from one extreme to the otheso as to position numeral l in any desired column, as may be required in particular months of particular years. During sliding of frame 58 from right to left, strip 56 transports card 62 from left to right, and vice versa. The portion of strip 56 that faces card 62 does not slide relative to the card and there is consequently no hazard of the numerals being worn off by such rubbing.

The calendar includes a further strip 66 carried by spindles 68 and 16 so as to be rolled on one as it is unrolled from the other, traversing support rod H. Case 58 has two openings 12 and M for displaying the selected month and year. and an additional opening 16 in front of rod II for displaying an index in the column directly above that where numeral 1 should be positioned in the selected month. Frame .58 has a portion 18 extending well above the top of the column strip 5-1 so as to mask all of strip 56 except where aperture in mask '18 exposes .approximately one column width of strip 5510chind opening 16,. Mask (8 extends horizontally approximately twice the length of opening Hi so that, as aperture 80 moves from column to column to expose different portions of strip 66, the remainder of that strip behind opening 16 is concealed.

Strip 66 has a portion behind opening 76 related to the month and. year exposed through openings 12 and 14. This portion has indicia in all of the columns, all but one of the columns having an arrow or pointer aiming in the direction that mask I8 and frame 58 should be moved so as to expose the index 8! signalling proper location of the first day of the month in the appropriate column for the particular month displayed in opening 12. Advantageously, this index takes the form of the number of days in the particular month selected. Thus, when the month February in 1951 is selected by manipulation of spindles 68 and 10, mask 78 is shifted horizontally in a separate manual operation as indicated by the arrows that may be exposed behind opening 80, and when opening 80 is located to exhibit the numeral 28, frame 58 will automatically transport numeral 1 to the column (Thursday) that is proper for starting the month in question. Opening 80 carried with chart 56 constitutes one index 80 that is to be aligned with 28 on chart 66 as a second index 8|. In each instance the numeral telling the number of days in the month selected is located in the column where the first of the month should be positioned. Both indices could if desired be off-set one or more columns relative to the firstof-the-month. The arrangement for controlling the first-of-the-month positioning is seen to be fully compatible with the arrangement for displaying the contrasting indicia in the Sunday column and in the remainder of the week.

Aperture 80 is advantageously formed by striking forward a tab 82 that extends through a slot 84 in the face of case 50. This tab is manually grasped for transporting frame 58 and mask 18. When the tab is manually grasped, the hand naturally obscures frame 52; but it is unneces-- sary for the operator to pay any attention to the day-of-the-month indicia in effecting proper setting of day-of-the-month strip 56. When the index 28'on strip 66 is aligned with the index represented by opening 80 carried with strip 56,

the latter strip is set correctly; and incorrect setting is immediately apparent.

The embodiments in Figs. 1-7 inclusive have, as a common characteristic, a flat-front case and display region. The embodiment in Figs. 8 and 9 shows that it is entirely feasible to arrange the contrasting Sunday day-of-the-month strip in cylindrical form with the cylindrical axisparallel to the dividing line between the Sunday column and the next adjacent column. A double- Walled case having an outer portion 86 with a frame aperture 88 for displaying the days of the month in columns identified by strip 90 also contains a fixed cylindrical member 92 having a slot 92a. Rotatable within member 92, and integral with base 94 of the unit, is a central drum 96. Endless strip 90 bears red and black numerals, each progressing as in the embodiment of Fig. 4, and both sets of numerals are imprinted on the same surface of the strip. Strip 90 is stretched around the outside of drum 96 and attached thereto. This strip extends through slot 92a and is slideable around the outside of slotted drum 92. When bottom 94 is rotated relative to case 86, drum 96 draws one column after another of red numerals into position in the Sunday column,

while related black numerals completing the numerical day-of-the-month sequence appear in the Monday-Saturday columns.

Suitable indicia for identifying the month and year and in particular for dictating the location of the first of the month in the proper column are displayed through an opening 98 on a strip suitably supported on internal rollers that may be carried by the cover I00 of the device. Thus, the pointer near numeral 30 serves in this embodiment as the index opposite which. the firstof-the-month index is to be positioned, just as the indices in the other figures serve to direct the proper location of the date-of-the-month strip. E'ach one-month portion of the strip carries its index in the proper columnar position to direct setting of the first-of-the-month.

A latitude of rearrangement and substitution of parts in the foregoing illustrative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, and therefore the appended claims should be accorded that scope of interpretation that is consistent with the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: l

1. A calendar having a frame affording an opening and defining seven vertical day-of-theweek columns, sheet means bearing two sets of contrasting day-of-the-month characters on different areas thereof, and means movably supporting said sheet means behind said opening to display complemental portions of said sets of characters through said frame, said supporting means including a vertical guide fixed relative to said frame, and disposed between an end column and the next adjacent column.

2 A calendar having a fixed frame affording an opening and defining seven vertical day-ofthe-Week columns, a strip bearing two contrasting sets of day-of-the-month characters, and means movably supporting said strip behind the frame including fixed strip-guide means extending vertically between an end column and the next adjacent column, said strip being disposed about said strip-guide means and displaying correlated portions of the two sets of contrasting characters through said fixed frame, and said strip-supporting means including a drive member for transporting said strip transversely of said strip guide to change the characters displayed through said frame while maintaining contrasting correlated portions of the strip in said end column and in the remaining columns.

3. A calendar having a case embodying a frame affording an opening, said frame having designations defining seven vertical columns, a strip guide disposed behind said frame and establishing a strip path extending across the rear of said opening and extending away from said opening to the rear between an end column and the next adjacent column, strip means extending across said opening to the rear of said frame and about said strip guide, said strip means having contrasting, complemental characters displayed through said opening in said end column and in the remaining columns, and strip supporting and transporting means having bearings fixed to said case.

4. A calendar including a case having a generally flat frame affording a rectangular opening and defining seven columns, strip-supporting means including a shaft rotatably supported in said case and disposed behind an end column of said frame, guide means including a vertical guide member defining a bend in a strip path between said end column an the remaining columns, and a strip bearing two sets of contrasting indicia in different areas thereof, said strip being wrapped around said shaft to -display a portion of one area thereof through said opening, and said strip extending about said vertical guide and across the rear of said frame to display a complemental portion of the other contrasting area through said frame.

5. A calendar in accordance with claim 4, wherein said strip is in the form of an endless tape, and in which said areas bearing contrasting indicia are on the same surface thereof.

6. A calendar including a case having a generally flat frame affording a substantially rectangular opening and defining seven Vertical columns, strip-supporting means including a shaft rotatably supported in said case and disposed behind an end column of said frame, a second shaft rotatably supported in said case at the opposite end of said frame in relation to the first shaft, a vertical guide member defining a bend in a strip path between said end column and the next adjacent column, and a strip secured to said shafts at its ends and extending about said guide, said strip having on one side thereof a first set of characters a portion of which is supported by said first shaft and displayed in said end column through said opening, and said strip having a second set of characters contrasting to the first set on the opposite side of the strip and having aportion extending from said guide toward said second shaft and displayed through said opening.

7. A calendar having a frame affording an opening and defining seven vertical day-of-the- Week columns, a guide structure rearward of said frame and embodying a vertical slot between an end column representing Sunday and the next adjacent column, a horizontally movable card rearward of said guide structure, said card being at least as wide horizontally as said opening, a second frame horizontally slid'able on said guide structure and disposed between said guide structure and said frame, said second frame being at least as wide as thirteen of said columns, the side elements of said second frame being no greater than one column in width, a first strip portion extendingfromone of said side elements through said slot and reverselyto one lateral edge of said card, a second strip portion extending from the other of said side elements through said slot and reversely to the other lateral-edge of saidflat element, said strip portions bearing sets of contrasting day-of-the-month characters, the arrangement being such that the characters in the end column representing Sunday will. contrast with and complement the day-of-the-month characters exhibited. in the other columns.

8; A calendar having first and second frames defining openings in vertical columnar alignment, means supporting a month-and-year strip and exhibiting a portion thereof through said first frame opening, means supporting a. day-ofthe-month strip and exhibiting a portion thereof through said second frame opening, said dayof-the-month strip being movable transversely to position the first-of-the-month in any de'-, sired column, and co-columnar indexes on said strips when said calendar is properly set.

9. A changeable calendar having a: seven-column day-of-the-week frame and a selectively set F assembly having a day-of-the-mont chart adjustable to position the first-of-the-month in any desired column of said frame, said chart having separate contrasting but complemental: areas, said assembly having a vertical chart guide between one end column and the next adjacent column and both contrasting portions of said chart extending close" to said guide so as to display a composite one-month area, a first-of-themonth index in each of said areas, a selectively set month chart having a one-month area thereof displayed closelyadjacent said frame, and an index in each one-month area located in that column where a first-of-the-month index of said day of-the-month chart is to be located for the selected one-month area.

10. A changeable calendar including an adjustably supported month chart, a seven-column day-of-the-week frame, an adjustable supported day-of-the-month chart movable to set the first-of-the-month in any day-of-the-week column, a mask for exposing only a selected onemonth area of each chart, each one-month area having an index unique in location corresponding to the day of the week for the start of that month, and a second mask carried with saidday ofthe-month chart and overlying said selected one-month area, said second mask having an aperture for displaying the index of the selected one-month area through the first-mentioned mask when the day-of-themonth. chart is positioned to set the first-of-the-month in the proper day-of-the-week column.

11. A changeable calendar having an adjustable assembly including a day-of-the-month chart, a seven-column frame for displaying a one-month area of said day-of-the-mont chart, and means movably supporting said day.- of-the-mont chart for enabling adjustment of the first-of-the-month to any column of said frame, a narrow slot directly above said frame, a month chart having an area thereof related to. one month displayed through said slot and havingv adjustable supporting means to select and display. a desired month, said mont chart bearing an index in each one-month portion thereof in that column where the first-of-themonth of the. day-of-the-month chart is to be positioned for the selected month.

12. A changeable calendar in accordance with claim 11 wherein said adjustable assembly includes an index movable with said day-of-themonth chart and extending into proximity with said slot.

13. A changeablev calendar including a dayof -the.-month chart and a month chart, selective supporting and setting means for displaying a onemonth area of said. day-of-themonth? chart, selective supporting and setting means for. displaying a' one-month portion of said month chart, an index carried. with said day-of-the--month chart, andanindex in each one-month portion of said. month chart uniquely related inv location so that. whensaid setting means are. operated to move. said indices into; juxtaposition, the day-of-the-month: chart will be automatically set correctly for the selected month.

14. A changeable calendar having a multiapertured case, a movable assembly carrying a day-of-the-month. chart having all except a one-month portionthereof concealed by said case and said. one-month portion displayed through an aperture in said case, said assembly having an index. in a fixed relation to the first-of-themonth of said chart, av month chart having all exceptia one-month portion thereof concealed by said case. and having: a one-month. portion thereof displayed. through said: apertured: case, and movable means selectively supporting. any

desired one-month portion of said month chart in display position, each one-month portion having an index whose location is uniquely related to the proper location of the first-of-themonth index, whereby-juxtaposition of said indices automatically correlates the setting of said charts.

15. A changeable calendar having a frame divided into seven vertical columns, a date-of-themonth chart having contrasting portions, and supporting and transporting means disposing part of one of said contrasting portions in an end column of said frame and disposing a complemental part of the other of said contrasting portions in the remaining columns of said frame.

16. A changeable calendar having a frame divided into seven vertical columns, a date-of-themonth chart having constrasting portions, supporting and transporting means disposing part of one of said contrasting portions in an end column of said frame and disposing a complemental part of the other of said contrasting portions in the remaining columns of said frame, a changeable month-andyear chart having a single month portion thereof displayed with an index-bearing area in columnar alignment with said frame, said index-bearing area of said single month portion having an index in the column where the day-of-the-month chart should start.

17. A changeable calendar having a frame affording seven columns, a day-of-the-month chart disposed behind said frame for display of a predetermined portion thereof through said frame with the first-of-the-month in any desired column, an additional chart having a sequence of individual month-and-year areas, said additional chart having a portion thereof displayed in vertcal alignment with said frame'and having a distinctive index in the particular column Where the first of said day-of-the-month chart should be located.

18. A changeable calendar in accordance with claim 17 having an index mechanically connected to said day-of-the-month chart for coordinate movement therewith, said index overlying the selected index-bearing portion of said additional chart, whereby adjustment of said day-of-themonth chart so as to dispose its mechanically coupled index in registry with the index of said additional chart portion will automatically adjust the first of the day-of-the-month chart in the right column for the selected month of said additional chart.

19. A changeable calendar having a frame affording seven columns, a day-of-the-month chart adjustably disposed behind said frame for display of a predetermined portion thereof through said frame with the first-of-the month in any desired column, an additional chart having a sequence of individual monthand-year areas, each of said areas having a portion displayed in vertical alignment with the seven columns of said frame and having a distinctive index in the partcular column where the first of the day-of-the-month chart should be located and other indices pointing the proper direction for adjustment of said day-of-themonth chart so that the first of the month will be moved to the correct column for the individual month-and-year area selected, a mask mechanically connected to said day-of-the-month chart for coordinate movement therewith, said mask having an aperture of approximately one column-width to display said pointing indices or said distinctive index, and having areas obscuring the indices in the other columns for all positions of adjustment of said day-of-the-month chart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,310,428 Moerk July 22, 1919 1,323,881 Long Dec. 2, 1919 1,459,236 Orth June 19, 1923 1,526,166 Manahan Feb. 10, 1925 1,692,392 Stevenson Nov. 20, 1928 1,749,562 Carroll Mar. 1, 1930 1,788,511 Fenimore Jan. 13, 1931 1 2,356,107 Vogel Aug. 15, 1944 2,542,683 Lang Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 230,718 Switzerland Apr. 1.7, 1944 17,039 France Mar. 3, 1913

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