US3017711A - Perpetual calendars - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 23, 1962 w. c. BOGGISS PERPETUAL CALENDARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1959 hyvery'ror' M/M? Jan. 23, 1962 w. c. BOGGISS PERPETUAL CALENDARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1959 Jan. 23, 1962 w. c. BOGGISS 3,017,711

PERPETUAL CALENDARS Filed April 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll'fve vtor tent 591m 3,@i7,71l Patented Jan. 23, 1962 3,017,711 PERPETUAL CALENDARS Waiter C. Boggiss, 203 Donalda Bldg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, (Canada Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Sea. No. 803,729 4 Claims. Cl. 4tl-1tl9) The invention relates to the recording of time in days, weeks and months of the years, and is particularly directed to what is known as a perpetual calendar. In this particular type of calendar, days-of-the-month numbers are aligned in columns on a number plate for a series of monthly registrations, through a window of a casing frame, with days-of-the-week indicia on said casing frame, in the movement of these members past each other.

It is well known that seven of the months of the year have thirty-one days, four have thirty days, and February has twenty-eight, except at leap year when it has twentynine. Accordingly, such mechanically operated calendars must have means thereon, such as a masking plate, for blotting out or covering the numbers thirty-one, thirty, and twenty-nine, when the lower numbered months are to be shown, as well as the movement between the members mentioned above.

Heretofore, the movable parts of such perpetual calendars, including those for the years and the names of the months, have been simply and separately operated, usually from the back of the calendar, which prevents visual observation of the resulting changes while it is being done, and when the settings are complete, they can easily be altered by a sudden jar, a dropping of the calendar, or the curiosity of a child, unless tightly secured, and then such securings must be patiently and separately released to change the setting.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce a construction for a perpetual calendar whereby all moving parts can be operated while the operator is visually observing the changes from the front thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby both the registration of the numbers with the indicia and the masking out of numbers can be accom plished by movement of the number plate, or the casing frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for releasably locking the masking plate and the number plate together at all numberings of the months thereshowable, and such that said numberings can be bodily moved into day-of-the-week registrations on said calendar.

A further object of the invention is to releasably lock all movable parts so their monthly settings cannot be altered by a jar, a fall, or childish curiosity without knowledge, and yet can be simply released.

A further object of the invention is to supply a chart, and instructions therefor, with the calendar whereby the day of the week on which months start in any year can be ascertained for use in the setting of the calendar thereto.

A further object of the invention is to design the calendar with few parts, principally stampings, so it can be made from sheet material, such as cardboard, metal or thin plastic, to fold flat for quantity storage, shipment, or for mailing as a do-it-yourself kit from an instruction sheet.

Still further objects of the invention are to construct the calendar in a simple, economical and rugged manner, for ease of operation, low manufacturing cost, and reasonably long satisfactory life.

With the above important and other minor obiects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the design, construction, arrangement and operation of the parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a desk set perpetual calendar complete.

FIGURE 2 is a central vertical cross section taken on the line 22, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a layout blank of the calendar casing, ready for forming.

FIGURE 4 is a layout blank of the number plate, ready for forming.

FIGURE 5 is a face view of a punched out locking lever blank.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a formed tooth for attachment to the locking lever blank shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the locking lever complete with tooth.

FIGURE 8 s a layout blank of the maskng plate ready for formng.

FIGURE 9 is a rear perspective view of the number plate, the locking lever and the masking plate connected in an assembly.

FIGURE 10 is a layout blank of the locking catch ready for forming.

FIGURE 11 is a partial perspective view, enlarged, of the central upper part of the casing with the formed locking catch thereabove and ready for pivotal attachment thereto by the rivet thereadjacent.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the casing on its back and with the bottom thereof opened out to show the method of final assembly of the calendar.

FIGURE 13 is a face view of the calendar shown in FIGURE 1, with the upper locking catch released, the indicator arrows aligned, the locking lever drawn down through the finger opening, and part of the casing broken away to show operation.

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a modified number plate.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a modified casing or frame.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged section showing the assemblies of FIGURES 14 and 15 in a wall calendar arrangement.

FIGURE 17 is a face view of an instruction chart for the days of the week on which months start in any year and for use with the calendar.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A rectangular-shaped punched out flat blank It) is shown in FIGURE 3, and when same is folded on the dotted lines shown thereon, it will produce the triangularshaped casing or frame shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The tongues 11 on the end flap 12 of the blank will be in position for locking with the triangular-shaped slits 13 of the spaced flaps 14 of the blank, to hold said casing in shape. These overlapping flaps form the bottom of the casing. The square central opening 15 of the blank presents a front window in the casing and it will be noted in FIGURE 11 that the upper edge thereof is calibrated at 16 into indicia for the seven days of the week. An upward pointing arrow 17 is shown centrally below the window. The portion 18 of the blank forms the back of the erected casing, and when the cut-out 19 at the casing peak is pressed in, a lengthwise slot 2&1 results.

When the blank 10 is shape-folded as above explained, a blank 21, shown in FIGURE 10, is also folded into the shape shown in FIGURE 11, and attached thereto to form an assembly therewith, and to provide a locking catch. In this latter folding, the arm 22 is bent back on the dotted line 23 so the hole 24 therein will centre on the larger hole 25 of the wing 26. The second arm 27 is then swung back by bending at both dotted lines 28 and 29 to centre the hole 3th therein with the other two holes. Accordingly, the triangular-shaped portion 31, between the dotted lines 23 and 29, presents a strongly J) reinforced hooking shoe, and at the same time holds the wing 26 at an angle to the arms.

By observing FIGURE 11 it will be seen that the Wing 26 and the arm 22 can be passed down into the slot 20 of the casing, while the arm 27 can pass down the front to align the three holes mentioned with a punched hole 32 in the casing, just below the slot 24). A tubular rivet, shown at 33, can then be passed through all the holes and riveted to form a pivot point for the locking catch, and when same is swung down thereon, the shoe 31 will hook into a vertical slit 34 on the edge of the slot 29. It might be mentioned at this time that the hole 25 is larger than the rivet, which passes right through, and therefore does not hold the wing 26, but does provide a pivot for the two swinging arms 22 and 27, one on the inside and other on the outside.

A punched out blank 35, shown in FIGURE 4, is adapted to form a sliding number plate for the calendar. The centre of this blank presents latticed lines 35 for thirteen vertical columns of day-of-the-month numbers 36' thereon. The central upper edge of the blank is provided with seven spaced slits 37, the lower edge with four central slits 38, and the lower right hand corner with a lengthwise positioned but limited round ended slot 39. The upper projecting corners of the blank are adapted to be bent back on the dotted lines shown to form stops 40 while the sides 41 are also adapted to be bent back on the dotted lines shown, against the rear of the number plate, for stapling thereto as shown at 42 in FIGURE 9 to provide finger grips. These grips could be secured in other ways, such as by adhesive.

A locking lever 43 is shown as a blank in FIGURE and is provided with a fulcrum hole 44 and a slot hole 2-5 through the swingable head thereof. A tooth 46 is formed into a T-shape from a strap, as shown in FIG- URE 6. The leg of the T has a dull pointed end, as indicated at 47, and is passed through the slot hole 45 of the lever until the upper wings thereof contact. They are then secured as by adhesive. The toothed lever accordingly appears as shown from the reverse side in FI URE 7. While this construction has proved very satisfactory, the toothed lever could be formed in one piece in other ways, such as by molding.

A masking plate 4-8 is shown as a punched blank in FIGURE 8. The upper surface of this plate also presents a latticework of lines 49 having an upper profile of steps 50 and 51. A downwardly pointing arrow 52 is positioned in the step 50 of the latticework and central of the masking plate. A central cut-out 53 is provided at the lower edge 54, which is adapted to be bent back on the dotted line shown. A hole 55 is punched through the right hand side of the plate, below the latticework.

The locking lever 43 is positioned over the number plate 35 with its fulcrum hole 44 registering with the round ended slot 39 thereof, and its tooth 46 received in one of the lower slits 38. The masking plate 48 is then placed over the first two with its hole 55 aligned with the hole 44 of the locking lever, and of course the slot 39 of the number plate. A tubular rivet 56 (same as 33) is then passed through all three and riveted, so that a number plate assembly is produced, best shown in perspective in FIGURE 9, the parts being turned over from the positions shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 8. From this latter figure it will be seen that, if the locking lever 43 is swung up from its tooth caught slit, both the lever and the masking plate can slide in the slot 39 and therefore along the number plate, or vice versa, the number plate can slide in relation to them.

A small endless belt 57 is provided with the names of the months 58 thereacross, and in spaced relation therealong. In the present instant, this belt is made from a strip of tracing linen, normally used for drawings. The linen offers considerable strength, one side is coarsely finished to receive printing ink while the opposite side is smooth and shiney, presenting a slippery surface. After the names of the months have been printed thereon, the ends of the strip are secured together, as with adhesive, the smooth surface being inside. Other flexible material could be used such as ribbon, leatherette, rubber or even paper.

A small roller 59 was formed by applying adhesive to one side of a strip of paper and then rolling same into a tube. A smaller diametered but slightly longer shaft 6% was also formed in the same manner as the roller. Both of these members could have been cut from tubing, or from solid shafting.

The final assembly of the calendar is quite simple. The small belt 57 is flattened slightly at one place and partially pushed through the slot 2t) of the casing 10, from the top, care being taken that the names of the months can be read from the front of the casing, and thereabove. The roller 59 is slid within this projecting loop and the belt pulled down to lock said roller in the slot 2%, as shown in FIGURES l and 2. The casing is then placed on its back with the bottom open, as shown in FIGURE 12.

The shaft 60 is passed through the inside loop of the belt 57, as shown in FIGURE 12, and the ends of this shaft are hooked onto a pair of lugs 61 extending from the end flap 12 at the bottom of the casing, one on each side of the belt. It will be noted that a pair of small stops 62 are also bent up at these points to prevent the shaft from end shifting. The number plate assembly, shown in FIGURE 9, is then positioned over the belt and inside the wing 26 of the locking catch, the shoe 31 thereof being caught in one of the slits 37 of said plate. The masking plate carrying edge of the number plate assembly is then slid under the spaced flaps 14 of the casing bottom to bring this assembly firmly against the front thereof. The lower corners of the casing 10 are then pressed toward each other to pass the flaps 14 under the opposite flap 12 and the tongues 11 are then locked to the slits 13, to complete the assembly. By observing FIGURE 2 it will be seen that the flaps 14 pass into the lower left corner of the casing and cannot escape, so they reinforce the flap 12 to resiliently hold the belt tight and the roller locked in the slot 20. In the same way, the number plate assembly is slidably held in the upper and lower right hand corners, which act as guides for its sliding movements therealong, as will be later explained.

From the above description of parts and assemblies, it will be seen that the number plate assembly is exposing a complete monthly set of day-of-the-month number columns through the casing window, and said columns are aligned with day-of-the-week indicia thereabove, while the portion of the belt passing around the roller is exposing the name of one of the months of the year. The locking lever 43, which is pivoted to the masking plate, has its tooth locked in one of the slits 38 of the number plate, so these two plates are held together. The locking catch, which is pivoted to the casing, has its shoe caught in both the slit 34 of the casing and one of the slits 37 of the number plate so the number plate assembly cannot move. The caught roller 59, above the window, locks the belt. In other words; all parts are held fixed in a monthly setting and connot be disturbed by a jar, drop ping of the calendar, or childish interference, without knowledge of the releases.

Although the number of days in each month is quite familiar, such information in the form of the correct number has been printed on the belt at the end of each name of the month, as indicated at 63, the two numbers 28 and 29 being shown at the end of February. When the setting of the calendar is to be changed, say to the next month, the roller 59 is grasped by the fingers and lifted up from its locked position, against the resilience of the casing flaps 12 and 14. The roller is then turned in the fingers to move the belt for exposure of the name of the next month, the slippery side of the belt sliding around the lower shaft 60. By noting the day of the week that the last day of the old month falls on, the day of the week starting the new month is obvious. The locking catch 21 is hooked by a finger nail and pushed up, as shown in FIGURE 13. This presses the roller 59 back a bit and releases the number plate assembly for lengthwise sliding. The calendar is grasped in both hands, thumbs on the front at each end, and the first and second fingers are in the ends of the calendar and resting on the finger grips 41. By manipulating the fingers the number plate assembly can be moved in either direction past the window 15, thus changing the registration of the columns with the indicia thereabove, until the cut-out 19 contacts one of the stops 4%, at which time the column under the numeral 1 will be aligned with a day of the week at one or other of the ends of the window. It will not move any farther, so the two assemblies cannot come apart.

To change the setting for the correct number of days in the month, the number plate assembly is moved until the arrow 52 on the masking plate comes opposite the arrow 17 on the casing (see FIGURE 13). When this is accomplished, the swingable head of the locking lever 43 will be directly over a D-shaped finger opening 64 in the bottom of the casing. One hand is removed from the calendar and the index finger thereof is slipped up this opening, catches the tooth d6 of the locking lever, and pulls it down, thus withdrawing the tooth from its slit 38 and locking the lever head in the finger opening, as shown in FIGURE 13. Accordingly, the masking plate is held to the casing and freed from the number plate, except for the slot 39. Now, by again finger endshifting the number plate, say to the right, the numbers 31, 30 and 2h can be passed behind the steps 5@ and S1 of the masking plate and so out of sight; or by moving the number plate to the left, these numbers can be progressively exposed. The limited length of the slot 39 insures that only these numbers can be masked out. By stopping said number plate, just at the exposure of any of these numbers, the head of the locking lever can be manually pushed back up to catch the tooth 46 thereof in the correct slit 38 and the masking plate will again be connected with the number plate. Thereafter, months of that number can be bodily moved by the number plate assembly into all the registrations possible with the day-of-the-week indicia above the window. On the other hand, if the locking lever head is kept locked in the opening 64 and the number plate is pushed to either end of the slot 39, and the pressure continued, the specially designed curve on each side of this head, against the sides of the finger opening 64, will cause it to automatically lift up and again lock with the number plate. In other words; instead of this mechanism being damaged, it is just not necessary to manually push this locking lever back up in coming to the numbers 28 or 31. The locking lever head just disappears up the opening itself.

By again observing FIGURE 13 it will also be noted that the arrows 17 and 52 come together at a half-way position between day-of-the-week registrations. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that when any of the correct day-of-the-week registrations are made, the head of the locking lever cannot be directly over the finger opening 64. Accordingly, it can never fall down the opening to release the masking plate from the number plate, due to a jar, or fall.

When the correct numberin of the month has been attained by operation of the locking lever and the movement of the number plate, as above explained, the number plate assembly will then be moved until the columns are under the correct day-of-the-week indicia for the month required. The locking catch 21 is then pushed down until its shoe enters the two slits 34 and 37, thus locking both assemblies from movement in relation to each other. The roller 59 rocks back into position over the locking catch, and the setting for the new month is complete.

From the disclosure so far it will be seen that a frame casing assembly, a number plate assembly, an endless belt, a roller and a shaft have been provided for a complete calendar. All these pieces can be produced from flat material, and then formed into shape. Accordingly, they can be cheaply made from cardboard, sheet metal and any other types of sheet material. As said parts are all fiat, except the small tubings, they ideally lend themselves for presentation as a knock-down do-it-yourself-assembly kit which can be stored or shipped compaotly in quantity, or mailed separately in envelopes, the tubings, belt and number plate assembly all being retained within the folded frame casing. Due to this flat punched construction, whereby the printing can be done at the same time, plus the do-it-yourself-assembly, once the cutting and printing dies are made, the cost of manufacture is only slightly more than the cost of the material.

While the above disclosure has been directed more or less to a portable desk calendar, it will be appreciated that the same relative construction can be used for a wall calendar, with slight changes, and could be very attractive, especially if metal or plastic is used in its construction. Such a wall type modification is shown in FIGURES 14, 15 and 16. In FIGURE 14, the number plate assembly is exactly the same except that the finger grips are extended rearwardly to present supporting brackets 66 having keyhole-shaped slots 67 therein. The frame assembly 68, shown in FIGURE 15, instead of being a triangular-shaped casing, has the rear corner cut off to present a flat vertical frame, having its upper edge turned back and slightly downward in a flange 69. The bottom rear flap 70 is the same as the original flap 12. The roller, belt and shaft are the same.

The number plate assembly 65 is placed against a wall in the position required and the holes of the keyhole slots 67 are marked thereon. Screws (not shown) are secured to the wall of these markings. The belt is removed from the frame assembly 68, and it is then slid over the number plate assembly es, the first stop 40 being finger depressed and the cut-out portion 19 being lifted to clear each other, until said cut-out is freely movable between the two stops. The belt is then re-placed through the slot 20 and the roller 59 and shaft 60 secured as explained for the desk calendar. The finally assembled calendar is then attached to the wall by sliding the keyhole slots over the wall screws mentioned. By manually moving the frame assembly 68 first to one end of its travel, and then to the other, said screws will be exposed sufficiently for tightening with a screw driver. The operation of the wall calendar is exactly the same as described for the desk calendar, except that the frame assembly is manually end shifted instead of the number plate assembly, which of course is fixed to the wall.

To complete the full disclosure of this invention, a chart 71 is shown in FIGURE 17. This chart is believed to be self explanator, and if followed, the day of the week starting any month of any year can be obtained, and the calendar set for said month. This chart could be placed on the back 13 of the desk calendar, or divided and each part placed on an opposite side of the front window of each calendar. It will complete the calendar as a very accurate instrument.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a perpetual calendar, having a frame casing and a number plate slidably mounted together to expose columns of day-of the-month numbers, positioned on said plate, through a window in said casing for a series of registrations of said columns with day-of-the-week indicia, carried by said casing, in the movement of said casing and said plate in relation to each other; a masking plate slidably mounted between said casing and said number plate for manual positioning of selected said day-ofthe-month numbers in and from behind same; manually operable means for releasably locking said masking plate to said number plate at pre-determined positions of said a selected numbers with said masking plate, for joint sliding of the two plates as a unit, when moved; a roller positioned on said casing; an endless belt carried by said casing, passing around said roller, and having the names of the months thereacross, in spaced relation therealong; resilient means on said casing for tensioning said belt and frictionally locking said roller thereto; said roller manually liftable, against said resilience, for manual movement of said belt thereby, to separately expose each of said names in relation with said registered columns of numbers.

2. In a perpetual calendar, having a frame casing and a number plate slidably mounted together to expose columns of day-of-the-month numbers, positioned on said plate, through a window in said casing for a series of registrations of said columns with day-of-the-week indicia, carried by said casing, in the movement of said casing and said plate past each other; a masking plate slidably mounted between said casing and said number plate; manually operable means for releasably locking said masking plate to said casing for positioning of selected said day-of-the-month numbers in and from behind said blanker plate, in the movement of said casing and said number plate past each other; said means further manually operable to release said masking plate from said casing and releasably lock same to said number plate at pre-determined positions of said selected numbers with said masking plate, for joint sliding of the two plates as a unit, when moved; a lengthwise slot in the upper part of said casing; an endless belt projecting partially through said slot, and having the names of the months thereon, in spaced relation therealong; a roller, positioned in the outwardly projecting loop of said belt, and caught thereby in said slot; a pair of spaced resilient fiaps on the bottom of said casing; a shaft positioned through the lower interior loop of said belt and held by said resilient flaps; and said roller manually liftable, against the resilience of said flaps, for finger rotation, and movement of said belt, to separately expose each of said names in relation with said registered columns of numbers.

3, In a perpetual calendar, having a frame casing and a number plate slidably mounted together to expose columns of day-of-the-month numbers, positioned on said plate, through a window in said casing for a series of registrations of said columns with day-of-the-week indicia, carried by said casing, in the movement of said casing and said plate past each other; a masking plate mounted on said number plate for a limited end movement of the two therepast; a lever pivotally connected to said masking plate; said lever manually swingable to releasably lock with said casing for positioning of selected said day-of-the-month numbers in and from behind said blanker plate, in the movement of said casing and said number plate past each other; said lever manually reversible to release from said casing and releasably lock to said number plate at predetermined positions of said selected numbers with said masking plate; a head on said lever, receivable by an opening in said casing, in the releasably locked position of said lever therewith; said head operable with the sides of said opening to automatically release therefrom, at each end of said limited end movement of said number plate with said blanker plate, in the continued movement between said number plate and said casing, and for releasably locking said lever with said number plate, for joint end shifting of said plates as a unit, when moved.

4. A perpetual calendar, comprising: a triangularshaped hollow casing formed from a flat blank, the blank ends presenting resilient flaps which overlie and lock to form the bottom of said casing; a fiat number plate slidably mounted within said casing to expose day-ofthe-month numbers, disposed in vertical columns thereon, through a window in the front of said casing for a series of registrations of said columns with day-of-the-week indicia on the front of said casing, in the movement of said number plate on said casing; a masking plate between said casing and said number plate, and slidably carried by the latter; means for manually and releasably locking said masking plate to said casing, for positioning selected said day-of-the-month numbers to and from behind said masking plate, in the movement of said number plate past said casing; means for manually, and automatically, releasing said masking plate from said casing and releasably locking same to said number plate at pre-determined positions of said selected numbers therewith, for joint sliding of said plates past said casing as a unit, when moved; grips on the ends of said number plate for operational contact of human fingers therewith, through the open ends of said casing; a lengthwise slot at the central peak of said casing; an endless belt extending partially through said slot, and behind said number plate, and having the names of the months thereacross, in spaced relation therealong; a roller, positioned within the upper extending loop of said belt, and caught thereby in said slot; a shaft within the lower inside end loop of said belt, and secured on said bottom resilient crossed flaps; said roller manually liftable, against the resilience of said flaps, for manual rotation and movement of said belt thereby, to separately expose the names of said months above said window of said casing; a catch, having one end thereof pivotally mounted on said casing; the free end of said catch manually operable to lock with and release, from slit means on said number plate, at all registerable positions of said columns with said indicia; and a pair of spaced stops, each carried by one of the ends of said number plate, for contact with said casing to limit the movement of said number plate in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,059 Lichter May 13, 1902 1,266,499 Leckey May 14, 1918 2,134,183 Grantham Oct. 25, 1938 2,506,888 Patterson May 9, 1950

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