US3069081A - Catamenial calendar - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. J. NECHTOW ETAL CATAMENIAL CALENDAR Dec. 18, 1962 Filed Feb. l5. 1960 Dec. 18, 1962 M. J. NEcHTow ErAL 3,069,081

CATAMENIAL CALENDAR Filed Feb. l5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F EB.

i /0 i I 2z I INVENTOR M/T'CHELL NECHTOW MANUEL z/MBEROFF F 15.7 WALTER f2s/CH BY W@ United States Patent O 3,069,081 CATAMENIAL CALENDAR Mitchell J. Nechtow, 55 E. Washington St., and Manuel Zirnberol, 6741 N. Rockwell St., both of Chicago, Ill.,

and Walter J. Reich, 1328 Lincoln Ave. S., Highland Park, Ill.

Filed Feb. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 8,787 Claims. (Cl. 23S-89) This invention relates to an improved device for measuring a normal catamenial (menstrual) period and providing a permanent record for such periods extending over several calendar months.

A primary object is to provide a device of this character with such overall simplicity that an accurate permanent record may be made available without need for great study or technical ability of the user.

A more specific object is to provide a continuous running calendar on which may be accurately measured the normal and have marked the actual initial date of the catamenial cycle to serve as a relatively permanent record thereof.

A further object is to provide such device to include substantial flexibility for normal cycles which varies with different females, some twenty-eight, others twenty-nine, or thirty days, or in which some other usual number of days can be accommodated for measurement, flexibly.

According to this invention the calendar days of a couple of months duration, or several months up to about a year more or less, are arranged in a printed geometric form comprising regularly spaced numbers and columns of numbers comprising the days of each month. A measuring device has four perforations cut therein through which one or more of the numbers of the calendar may be visible. The perforations are geometrically spaced with respect to each other and to the spacing of the numbers in the calendar whereby upon placing the measuring device upon the calendar surface With an initial date aligned through the proper perforation therefor, the desired next iirst date is measured by its appearance visibly through one of the other perforations.

The operation of the device is best described in relation to the drawings in which:

FIG. l illustrates a continuous calendar having date markings thereon in uninterrupted columns of figures combined with a perforated measuring device, the measuring side A being exposed to View;

FIG. 2 illustrates the reverse side B of the measuring device;

FlG. 3 illustrates the mounting of the measuring device with the side A exposed for measurement of centrally located numbers;

FIG. 4 shows the same mounting for measurement as FIG. 3 except that an alternate perforation is used in measurement;

FIG. 5 is a normal measurement with the measuring device inverted, the reverse side B of the measuring device being used in the measurement of centrally located numbers;

FIG. 6 similarly illustrates the reverse side B for measurement using an alternate perforation; and

FIG. 7 is a modification showing a folding booklet type calendar.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a normal sidereal calendar 10 is shown. It comprises a straight continuous sheet of paper, cardboard or similar, usually fibrous, sheet material receptive to and upon which markings may be printed or written on its surface 12. The paper has the dates comprising several months, even up to a full year more or less marked thereon, the dates of each month being disposed in columns of seven numbers each and ICC the columns are evenly spaced from each other. The spacing of each number is geometric with respect to the next such that there is as much horizontal space between columns as vertical space between numbers so that the distance from the center of each number to the next either horizontally or vertically, is the same. Each group of numbers corresponds to a certain month of a current year and has the name of the month indicated above or near its area for its identification as shown. Also, for convenience of further identication of the dates, but not necessarily, there is preferably marked each day of the week for its identification in any column of numbers. Thus, while FIG. l shows the iirst day beginning Sunday, the rst day may be any other day only providing that all of the numerical dates are located to correspond with the proper day of the week and the month; that is, each day is otherwise arranged in its proper sequence and position.

It will be observed at the end of each month, whatever its number, whether it be a thirty-day month or a thirty-one day month, and the like, the lirst day of the succeeding month begins in the very next position without any intervening spacing despite any date irregularity. For instance as is shown, in the year 1960, February has 29 days, yet the iirst day of March is shown to continue immediately, so that even with such irregularity each day of the year is arranged as a continuing number of complete columns of seven numbers per column in a series of evenly spaced numbers and columns however few or many days appear in each month.

For purposes of separating the numbers of each month the print of each may be diiierent, or colored differently in alternating colors as shown, for instance with dotted line numbers in contrast to solid line numbers of FIG. 1.

The measuring device 20 comprises a similar sheet of paper or may even be other material such as plastic. It has several perforations cut therein through which one or more of the numbers may be viewed, each perforation being characterized by iixed spacing with respect to the others. A `first space 22 is the starting space and it will preferably be set one space inward from vertical edge 25 and two spaces below a horizontal edge 24 of the measuring device.

The term space herein, may be defined as an area such as a square or circular area in which may be placed or exposed a number, a side or diameter dimension of which is the horizontal or vertical distance between centers of neighboring numbers.

As an alternate method of describing the spacing, it will be observed that the vertical columns as well as horizontal rows in FIG. 1, may be defined by a series of vertical lines m, n, o, p, etc. q, r, s, t, etc., and the square spaces having the numbers disposed at their centers. On such rectangular chart the iirst space 22 of the measuring device 20 would be disposed two spaces below the upper edge 24 of the measuring device 20, and o ne space inward from the edge 25 of the measuring devlce.

It will be noted therefore that the spacing of the first perforation v26 is, conveniently, near the left-hand side of the measuring device and near to, but several spaces below, an upper edge 24. For reasons which will appear the measuring device may be inverted in use as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5 where the perforation 22 then will be disposed a few spaces above the now lower edge 24.

A second perforation 32 is spaced to the right, as a fourth column removed from the column in which the rst perforation 22 will be aligned in use. That is, counting the first perforation as being associated with a first column, the perforation 32 will be then aligned with the tifth column. It will be observed that at positions in neighboring columns of the same horizontal height, the parallel numbers are eight numbers apart, counting both numbers. In the second column removed (to the right) they are fifteen numbers apart counting both starting and final numbers removed. Accordingly, a perforation 32 placed at the same height and the fourth column removed to the right from the perforation 22, will, therefore, measure 28 days. Thus, counting sequentially from .the first day appearing through perforation 22 will designate the 29th at the position at the same horizontal height; that is, the position in the same horizontal row. The perforation 4 columns removed, however, indicated by the numeral 32, is vertically elongated so that it will expose `to View the 29th day at its center, a position parallel to, in the same row, as the first day appearing through perforation 22. The 28th day then Vis in a position above `and the th day in position below the 29th day center position. Thus, as shown in FlG. 3 with side A of the measuring device 2G exposed, perforation 22 may be mounted above any number or any column of numbers, and several numbers of the fourth column removed (to the right thereof) will appear through perforation 32. When, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the measuring device is emplaced so that the first number of the column appears through the perforation 22, the 29th day will be the first number of the fourth column removed and no number will appear above it as the 28th day because it is at the top of the column. Similarly, when the measuring device is mounted at the bottcm of the column, as shown in FIG. 6 so that the last number of the column appears through the perforation 22, then the 29th day will appear as the last number of the fourth column removed, but no number will appear for the 30th day.

It is for purposes, therefore, of providing for measurement by the measuring device of a 28th day and a 30th day that the additional perforations 26 and 33 respectively, are used. These are emplaced near an opposite edge 27 of the measuring device, desirably one row inward thereof, and upon either side of the fourth row. The perforation 26, therefore, would be the last number of the preceeding column to that of perforation 32 aligned with its center exposing the top number of its column and for perforation 33 in the column suceeding that of perforation 32, and in the same horizontal row as perforation 26.

When the elongated perforation 32 in the fourth column is at the bottom of the column with the 29th day being the last number thereof, i.e. the position of FIG. 6, then the 30th day becomes measurable at the top of the next column through perforation 33, the measuring device being positioned as shown in FIG. 2, with the side B uppermost. When the perforation 32 with the side A exposed as in FIG. l, is mounted at the top of the column with the 29th day, i.e., 'the position of FIG. 3, then the preceding number, the 28th day, does -not show at the top of the column, and the next number in the preceding row becomes the 28th day and it then may be observed through the perforation 26.

As another definition of these perforation positions, when the center of elongated perforation 32 is aligned about the first number at the top of a column, then the perforation 26 will expose the last number of the preceding column, and the perforation 33 will expose the last number of the succeeding column.

If desired for further clarity, a line marked with the number 28 thereon, may be drawn between the perforation 22 Iand the perforation 26, and it may have an arrow pointing toward the perforation 26. That line will indicate that the 28th day is being read through that perforation 26. Since it will be normally read only when the center of perforation 32 is at the top of its column, the side A of the measuring device will then be exposed and that line or arrow marking will appear only on side A. It may be useful to put cross-out lines 34 extending from diagonal corners of the perforation 33 on side A only to indicate that in the position, with the side A exposed, the perforation 33 is not used.

For similar reasons, the perforation 22 may be interconnected by a line with the perforation 33 and that line marked with the number 36, showing that it measures the 30th day, and such line may also bear an arrow in the direction of the perforation 33. A measurement of the 30th day as it will appear being made only from side B, that line will appear only on side B. Similar cross-out lines 34 only on side B may extend from the diagonal corners of the perforation 26, thereby indicating that when the side B is exposed, the perforation 26 is not used.

The operation of the device is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4. 5 and 6. For purposes of operation it is assumed that the commencement of a catamenial period has been marked on a calendar as the beginning date, first date. This may be done by merely marking the date on the calendar surface 12 with a colored marking ink or pencil, or otherwise noticeably obliterating the particular date. The measuring device, sheet 20, is then mounted with perforation 22 preferably marked the lst over the obliterated date so that the last catamenial date will appear through the perforation 22. lf, for example as shown in Fifi. 3 the first date of the period was January 5, then the number 5 will appear through the perforation 22 upon proper placement of the measuring device 2i? on the calendar sheet 12. ln that position, with the side A of the measuring device exposed to the observer, the 28th day may be read as February l, the 29th day as February 2 and the 30th day as February 3, whichever is the desired measurement. These days indicate when the next catamenial period will be expected.

Sometimes the date of the first day .is at the top of the column of numbers, whereby a measurement of 28 days therefrom exposes a position above the top of the column which has no number. For instance, if the first day is January 3, as shown in FIG. 4, then 28 days therefrom would be January 30 which precedes the highest date, the number 31 appearing at the top of the column, and the 28th day is then only found as the last number in the preceding column. For purposes of measuring this, the perforation 26l would be used and it will be observed that the 30th day is exposed through this perforation so that the measurement of the 28th day is indicated by the line 36 bearing the number 23, and the 28th day, following this instruction, would be read through the perforation 26.

Again, where the first date appears low in a column of figures, the perforation 22 is fixed over the number by appropriately sliding the measuring device with the side A exposed over that first date number. lf the first day were January 8, for example, the measuring device 2f) may be moved downward with the side A exposed until the number 8 appears through perforation 22 and the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of February for any of the 28th, 29th or 30th days will appear through the perforation 32. That same measurement also becomes available from either side A or B, for instance the measuring device 20 can be used as in FIG. 3 or inverted to expose side B as shown in FG. 5.

The last number of the fifth column when January 8 is the first day as shown in FlG. 5 would be February 6, wherein February 6 is the lowest number of the column in which it appears. However, if the first day to be measured was January 9, appearing as the last number of its column, and the person doing the measuring wishes to measure a thirty-day period therefrom, a blank space would appear through performation 32 as shown in FIG. 6. For this purpose the thirty days would need to be measured through the extra perforation 33 from side B by inverting the measuring sheet, and it would be as directed by the arrow line 37 marked 39 to indicate the `direction of measurement of the thirtieth day when the thirtieth day does not appear in the perforation 32.

Thus, in a most simple manner, merely by using a calendar in which all of the days run consecutively posi- -tioned in columns of seven numbers and by using a simple measuring device having spaces disposed to measure 28, 29 'or 30 days in one perforation with alternate perforations for preceding or succeeding numbers where the number is in the next preceding or succeeding column, a most simple device is printed for measuring an expected catamenial period date.

Of course whenever such period occurs, such marking may become the first date and whether regular or irregular, it provides valuable information to a doctor in prescribing for the patient. The entire calendar in that manner may be marked with a complete history of an individual owner over a several-month period and that calendar may become part of the patients medical record. As printed on ordinary paper on which regular markings may be made, this becomes a most economical and easily used record.

The calendar sheet 12 may be as stated elongated to cover several months, a year more or less. For convenience of storage as a private record the elongated sheet may be folded at alternate months; for instance, along dotted lines 38, which may even be perforated if desired for easy folding by the user. Alternatively, the device may be furnished folded, and in use may be unfolded to the extent that two consecutive months may be unfolded to a fiat plane for use of the measuring device 20, which may straddle two consecutive months.

If desired, and as is shown in modification FIG. 7, the numbers between dotted lines 38 may be printed upon separate sheets and the sheets assembled into a booklet in such a manner that the numbers from one sheet to the next are aligned into continuing columns of equally spaced numbers, both horizontally and vertically, the same as upon sheet 12. In use of such booklet, it is merely necessary to open the pages between consecutive months and apply the measuring device to contiguous pages in the same manner as described above for the elongated sheet 12. It will be appreciated that where as shown in FIG. 7 two sheets for January and February are shown as contiguous sheets, on turning the page to expose the next pair of sheets the first sheet will necessarily repeat February so that the space between February and March may be measured as the next pair of sheets. Thus the first sheet of each continuing pair is a repetition of the last sheet of the preceding pair.

As thus described a most simply operated continuous personal catamenial record is provided. It serves to record the actual date situation of that person for her o'wn and the doctors record of her catamenial history and it serves as a guide to predicting the next period.

While the device has certain flexibility as shown, for a twenty-eight, twenty-nine or thirty-day period types, following the principles of this invention it may be modified for other date periods, for instance, twenty-seven or thirty-one day. While as shown the measuring device is of paper, it can be made of cardboard, plastic or metal. The calendar sheet 12 may further be used for making thereon whatever -additional personal information may be deemed useful for such record. For this purpose the calendar strip may have as wide margins for'writing such information as may be needed. It may also be provided with cross-lines marking out square spaces, m, n, o, p q, r, s, t, partially shown in FIG. l, continued throughout the surface or the area of the numbers on the surface of calendar 1 2, or such may be omitted as shown, as desirs@ Accordingly, certain modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended that the description herein be regarded as illustrative and not limiting except as defined in the claimed appended hereto,

We claim:

1. A catamenial calendar comprising, in combination, a calendar sheet having a print-receiving surface with calendar days numerically indicated thereon, the calendar days being arranged in a series of numbers 4in columns of seven numbers each, said numbers being equally spaced from center to center in each column, and numbers in neighboring columns, whereby the numbers appear in equally spaced rows and columns in both horizontal and vertical directions, the numbers of each day running consecutively without intervening spacing through the end of each month and the beginning of the next, and a measuring sheet having several perforations comprising cutaway portions sized to visibly expose a number on said calendar surface when the measuring device is aligned thereon, said perforations comprising a first and second perforation spaced from each other to correspond with the columnar spacing of said numbers to lie respectively on a first and fifth column of numbers Iwhen either perforation is aligned with a number in one of said columns, the second said perforation having its center aligned to the same vertical position of said measuring device, but elongated above and below its center to include cutaway space sufficiently above a centrally disposed number to expose the number next above it, and, cutaway space below said centrally disposed number to expose a number next below it when mounted upon a column of said nurnbers, a third and fourth perforation cut in said measuring device, said third perforation being spaced to be aligned with the column next preceding said second perforation and the fourth perforation being spaced to be aligned with the column next succeeding said second perforation, both said third and fourth perforations being mounted in the same horizontal row of numbers and spaced six columnar spaces below the center of said second perforation when said measuring device is mounted upon said calendar sheet.

2. Device as defined in claim 1 wherein the numbers in contiguous rows corresponding to calendar days of succeeding months are each printed in observable contrast to each other, there being a series of several months running continuously as numbers disposed in a series of columns.

3. Device as defined in claim l wherein the rows of numbers correspond to calendar days, are marked above the area for a given month to identify that month, and a fold line being mounted in the approximate area between months whereby the printable surface may be collapsed in a series of folds to compact form.

4. Device as defined in claim 1 wherein the continuing numbers, arranged in groups of columns comprising approximately a month being printed upon a single page, the pages being assembled into a booklet which, opened at any page, exposes a series of columns continuing through about two months.

5. Device as defined in claim 4 wherein the first month of any pair of open-faced pages is a substantial repetition of the last month of the pair on a preceding page.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,172,010 Cooke Feb. 15, 1916 2,046,239 Bardrof June 30, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,184,347 France Feb. 2, 1952

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