GB2060956A

GB2060956A - Movable calendar marker

Info

Publication number: GB2060956A
Application number: GB8029952A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-09-18
Filing date: 1980-09-17
Publication date: 1981-05-07
Also published as: HK6984A; JPS5931428Y2; GB2060956B; FR2465599A1; DE3035067A1; JPS5648673U; SG60883G

Abstract

A movable device for indicating a particular date on a calendar sheet (b) comprises a marker frame (a), a leading magnet (3) secured to the marker frame, and a follower magnet (6). The marker frame with its magnet (3) is placed on the face side of the calendar sheet (b) while the follower magnet (6) is placed on the rear side of the sheet at a position corresponding to the magnet (3). The marker frame has a window (1) through which a selected date figure on the calendar sheet can be seen. As the marker frame is moved by hand from one figure to another on the calendar sheet, the follower magnet is attracted to the magnet (3) through the calendar sheet and follows the marker frame. In this way, a selected date can be indicated on the calendar. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Movable calendar marker This invention relates to a movable calender marker to mark the date of any day and more particularly to a movable calendar marker to be used on a hangtype monthly calendar.

In our daily life we are surrounded by highly sophisticated electric and electronic devices with computers extensively employed in various kinds of fields to make our daily activity efficient and effective. However, being busy doing daily office work, analysing the current social situation in general, gathering information, trying to adapt outselves to the complicated human relations and finding solutions to various other problems, we are apt to forget very simple matters, such as the date.

We have calendars in offices or homes and some indications at stations showing the day's date.

Despite the aid of the calendars we sometimes forget what day it is today when we must know it.

Without knowing the date of each day we may miss, for example, important business appointments.

To avoid such inconveniences, it has been practice to secure an iron plate to the back of the calendar (as by adhesive tape) and slide a marker with a magnet on the front surface of the calendar. Another practice is to pin the marker on the calendar. With the first method the marker device necessarily becomes heavy and the latter method mars the appearance of the calendar because of the small pin holes made through the calendar.

An object of the present invention is to provide a movable calendar marker that eliminates the conventional drawbacks and in which the marker can be smoothly slid and stopped at the desired location to indicate the date on the calendar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a movable calendar marker which can be mass produced at low cost and in which the marker can be firmly held at the desired location on the calendar so that the marker will not drop.

According to the invention there is provided a movable calendar marker comprising a marker plate to slide on the face side of a hang-type monthly calendar sheet and having an indication window through which a date on the calendar sheet can be seen, at least one lead permanent magnet secured on one side of the marker plate, and at least one follower permanent magnet to slide on the rear side of the calendar sheet in a corresponding relation to said at least one lead magnet whereby, in use, said follower magnet follows the lead magnet as the marker plate is slid on the face side of the calendar sheet.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa front view of a calendar marker embodying the present invention used on a calendar sheet; Figure 2 is a front view of a marker plate of the calendar marker; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the relation between the marker plate, the calendar sheet and a follower magnet; Figures 4through 6 are front views of other examples of marker plates; Figure 7through 9 are vertical cross-sectional views of a marker plate and its lead permanent magnet, showing how the lead magnet is secured to the marker plate; Figure 10 is a front view of a follower permanent magnet of a suitable shape; Figure 11 is a cross-section of the follower magnet of Figure 10;; Figure 12 is a front view, partially cut away, of the follower magnet of Figures 10 and 11 but coated with a film; and Figure 13 is a cross-section of the follower magnet of Figure 12.

Figures 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the invention, in which a marker plate a is formed of thin synthetic resin plate (for example, vinyl chloride plate 0.3 to 1 mm thick) or relatively thick paper (for example, 0.5 to 1 mm thick). The marker plate has an indication window 1 at its center and a frame 2 around the window. Reference numeral 3 represents a lead permanent magnet that may be formed of a thin ferrite, a synthetic resin containing iron powder, or a rubber containing iron powder. This lead permanent magnet 3 is bonded to the rear side of an upper portion 2a of the frame 2 at the center thereof.

Reference b represents a hang-type monthly calendar sheet on which are printed numbers 4 indicating the days of the month and characters 5 indicating the days of the week, as with a conventional calendars Numeral 6 denotes a follower permanent magnet preferably made of the same material as the lead permanent magnet 3 on the marker plate a.

Acalendarwith the above construction is used in the following manner. If the rear side of the lead permanent magnet 3 is a North pole, the near side of the follower permanent magnet 6 must be a South pole. Firstly, the marker plate a is positioned at the number showing the day's date so that the number can be seen through the indication window 1 as illustrated in Figure 1. Then, the follower permanent magnet 6 is placed on the rear side of the calendar sheet b at the position corresponding to the permanent magnet 3 placed on the face side of the calendar sheet, so that the follower magnet 6 is attracted to the lead magnet 3 with the calendar sheet b between them. This enables the marker plate a to be firmly held on an intended date on the calendar sheet b.

When the date is to be changed, the marker plate a is moved along the face side of the calendar sheet b (preferably with the marker sliding) until it reaches the-intended date. At the same time, the follower magnet 6 which is attracted to the lead magnet is moved as the marker plate is moved.

Figures 4 through 6 show other embodiments of the marker plate a as viewed from the front. These marker plates a all include an indication window 1 and a frame 2. In Figure 4 the marker plate has a semicircular projection 2a1 at the upper center of the frame upper portion 2a. In Figure 5 it has a rectangular projection 2a2 at the upper centre of the frame upper portion 2a, and in Figure 6 it has its entire upper portion 2a3 of the frame upper structure 2a formed arcuately.

These constructions as shown in Figure 4 through 6 increase the area of the frame upper portion 2a, making it possible to attach a larger magnet to it than those of Figures 1 through 3. This in turn provides greater attraction between the lead magnet and the follower magnet. The increased area of the frame upper portion 2a may sometimes cover a part of a number 4 printed above the date on which the marker plate is placed. (In Figure 1, the marker plate will not cover the date when it is placed on 2nd through 7th, but it does when placed anywhere between 8th and 30th). However, any dates covered by the marker plate would be past ones and there will be no inconvenience arising from this.

Referring to Figure 7, a smooth member 7 is attached to the rear side of the lead permanent magnet 3 to cover the same. The member7 may be a smooth sliding paper or smooth synthetic resin piece bonded to the magnet 3, or it may be formed by applying paint to the rear side of the lead magnet 3 to make its surface smooth. This smooth member 7 greatly reduces friction between the rear side of the lead magnet 3 and the face side of the calendar sheet b when the marker plate a is slid over the sheet.

Figures 8 and 9 show other examples of means for securing the lead magnet 3 to the marker plate a. In Figure 8 the marker plate a has a recessed part 2a4 formed at the rear side of the frame upper portion 2a, and in Figure 9 it has a recessed portion 2a5 at its front side to receive the lead magnet 3, which is secured to the recess by means of a bonding agent.

This construction not only provides firm gripping of the lead permanent magnet 3 and reinforces the upper portion 2a of the marker a, but also improves the appearance of the marker.

Figures 10 and 11 show an example of the follower magnet 6, and Figures 12 and 13 show another example of the follower magnet 6 with a means to reduce further, friction caused when it is being slid on the rear side of the calender sheet. In Figures 10 and 11 the follower magnet is formed as a flat disc and its cross-section at its periphery 6a is of semi-circularform to reduce friction between is periphery 6a and the rear side of the calendar sheet of the month displayed or the face side of the next month calendar sheet, when it is moved horizontally, vertically or diagonally. In Figures 12 and 13 the follower magnet 6 has a shape similar to the one of of Figures 10 and 11, but has its outer surface coated with plastics material or paint to form a smooth film 8 that will provide less friction than the magnet of Figures 10 and 11.

Although particular embodiments of the marker have been described and illustrated, it should be noted that the marker is not limited to these embodiments, but can be modified as follows: (I) The shape of the marker plate a, as well as the shape of the frame upper portion 2a, can be modified as necessary.

(II) The permanent magnet 3 may be formed into a square, elliptic, or any other shape. Two or more magnets 3 may be used.

(III) The follower magnet 6 may be formed into an elliptical shape.

(IV) The marker may be formed with a bent portion projecting toward the front around the periphery of the indication window 1 to enable the marker to be gripped easily by a user's fingers and to improve the appearance of the marker.

(V) The marker a shown in Figures 7 and 9 may have its lower edge bent backwardly to prevent the lower portion of the marker from oscillating back and forth.

Claims

1. A movable calendar marker comprising a marker plate to slide on the face side of a hang-type monthly calendar sheet and having an indication window through which a date on the calendar sheet can be seen, at least one lead permanent magnet secured on one side of the marker plate, and at least one follower permanent magnet to slide on the rear side of the calendar sheet in a corresponding relation to said at least one lead magnet, whereby, in use, said follower magnet foí lows the lead magnet as the marker plate is slid on the face side of the calendar sheet.

2. A movable calendar marker as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said marker plate is of substantially rectangular shape, defining a frame around the indication window.

3. A movable calendar marker as claimed in Claim 2, wherein an upper border of said frame has an enlarged portion for securing the lead magnet.

4. A movable calendar marker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said one side of the marker plate includes a rear side thereof.

5. A movable calendar as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said lead magnet is covered by a smooth member.

6. A movable calendar marker as claimed in any of one Claims 1 to 3, wherein said one side of the marker plate includes a face side thereof.

7. A movable calendar marker as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said one side has a recess to receive the lead magnet.

8. A movable calendar marker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said follower magnet is a flat disc.

9. A movable calender marker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said follower magnet has a margin of semi-circular cross-section.

10. A movable calendar marker as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein said follower magnet is covered with a smooth film.

11. A movable calendar marker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, or Figure 6, or Figure 7, or Figure 8 or Figure 9, or any one of Figures 1 to 9 as modified by either Figures 10 ar 11 or Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.