US1322362A - Monroe w - Google Patents

Description

M. W. SHILLING AND M. HENDERSON.

TIME OPERATED COST COMPUTING DEVICE.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEC.23, 19W. I I 1,322,362, Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC-23. I9I8.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS'-SHEET 2.

' ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

TIME-OPERATED COST-COMPUTING DEVICE.

Application filed December 23, 1918.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MONROE WV. SHIL- LING and Momns HENDERSON, citizens of the United States, and residents oflndianapohs, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Time- Operated Cost-Computing Device; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eX-act description thereof, reference being had to the accompanymg drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to time operated cost computing devices, and is designed prr marily for use in connection with pool and billiard tables for instantly designating the amount owed by the players for the time they used each individual table.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for positively identifying the table being used so that there may be no error or any dispute of the amount of time consumed, and the amount due for the use of such table.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for attaching the computing device to a clock or time operated device. I

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a removable cylinder for cooperation with the time operated mechanism,- whereby cylinders containing figures for giving different amounts charged for the use of the tables, may be attached to or removed from the operating mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the computing device. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is asectional view as seen on line 33 Fig. :2. Fig. f is a seo tional view as seen on line 4l Fig. 1. Fig. 5. is a fragmentary elevation of a cylinder having computation numerals thereon.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views, 1 indicates a casing, which may be constructed in any preferred shape or design, and which is secured at one end to a standard 2, and preferably extends at right angles to the standard. Extending at right angles from the standard 2 is a hollow sleeve 3, through which extends a shaft t, said shaft having Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Serial No. 268,090.

attached to one end thereof a spider 5 of a cylindrical drum 6, said drum being rotatable with said shaft. I

Mounted upon the drum 6 is a cylinder 7, the external face of which is divided into a plurality of graduated spaces 8, in which spaces are placed numerals 9 for indicating the total sum owed for the use of a pool or billiard table for a specified time. In the present instance the spaces 8 and the numerals indicated thereon give the cost for the use of the table in periods of ten minutes to each square or space, and the cost for each ten minutes of play is one cent per minute, although a greater or less amount may be charged for the use of the tables, as may be desired. Consequently the cylinder 7 is removably attached to the drum 6 so that a cylinder, having any preferred series of numerals thereon for indicating the amount owed for the useof the tables for a specified time, may be quickly introduced on to the drum, any suitable means being employed, for holding the cylinder on the drum, as for instance a screw 10, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. It will, however, be understood that the cylinder may be made of any desired length, and any numbeii of numeral receiving spaces may be provided on each cylinder, as occasion may require.

In order to positively identify the table with a certain specified space upon the cylinder, the casing 1 is provided with a horizontally extending slot 11, through which one series of spaces 8 and the numerals thereon, throughout the entire length of the cylinder, may be viewed, each column of figures on the cylinder circumferential thereof start ing with a zero mark or dot 12, the numerals then being arranged circumferentially of the cylinder in multiples of ten.

The outer face of the casino 1, immediately adjacent one edge of the slot 11, is divided into spaces 13 which correspond in size to the spaces 8 of the cylinder, and said spaces are in turn divided into sections 1 there being a similar series of numerals in the spaces 13 of each section, while the sections are identified in any suitable man ner as by means of letters 15, the first space being lettered A, the second B and so on to the end of the sections, while the spaces 13 are numbered from 1 to 5 successively, although the number of these spaces may be varied as occasion may require.

In determining the amount owed for the use of the table for a specified time, the attendant at the beginning of the play or game observes the numerals exposed through the slot 11, and when a zero or dot marked 12 is found, immediately makes note of the numeral in the space 13 immediately above the same, and also the designating letter of the section in which said numeral is located, and by noting these identifications and also noting the number of the table to which it applies, no difiiculty need arise as to the correctness of the cost for the time consumed. As an illustration, it will be noted in Fig. 1 that the zero or dot 12 is in registration with the numeral 4 in section D, and supposing the players use the table for one hour and then ask for the amount which they owe. The attendant refers to a slip or other suitable data showing thereon the number of the column in which to look for the total amount due, and the section in which said numeral is located, consequently in referring to the computer a casual glance will suffice to locate the section containing the letter D, and the space in said sect-ion containing the numeral 4, then the numeral on the cylinder which is at that time in registration with, or immediately below the numeral 4 on the face of the casing, which total amount or numeral would be 60, thereby indicating that the players had used the table for one hour and owed 60 cents for such use. The columns of numerals 9indicating the total sums for the use of the tables are so arranged circumferentially of the cylinder that one or more of the zero marks 12 will always be exposed through the slot 11, the number so exposed being determined by the number of tables upon which games are being played, and said numerals are so arranged that each time the cylinder is rotated one space a new set of the zero marks will be exposed through the slot 11. By always selecting a zero mark for use in connection with each table at the beginning of the game, no argument need arise as to the amount due for the use of the table, as the player as well as the attendant may have access to the computer and know that the proper column for indicating the amount to pay had been selected.

The drum and cylinder thereon ispreferably operated through the medium of a clock 16, although any suitable timing device may be employed for operating the cylinder.

In the drawings a limited number of spaces 8 are shown, yet it will be noted that the cylinder may be made of any desired length, and the series of numerals thereon multiplied to any extent, and by providing removable cylinders for the drum, various amounts may be charged for the use of the table, without necessitating the employment of another machine, when these numbers are to be changed, as with this device, a cylinder having one set of computations thereon may be exchanged for a cylinder having different computations thereon and said cylinders used with the same operating mechamsm.

The spaces 8 may be subdivided into a number of spaces and in each of these subdivided spaces a different numeral designating a difi'erent cost per minute or hour may be used so that the same column will give the cost per hour or fraction thereof for two or more tables, depending upon the subdivisions of the spaces 8 for which different prices are charged for the use of the tables. That is to say 50 cents per hour may be charged for the use of one table, 60 cents for the use of another table and 75 cents for the use of another table and no confusion need result as to the amount owed, as each table has its own particular designating numeral and the amount to be charged per hour is known before the players begin to play, consequently by referring to the subdivisions on the space 8 registering with the proper numeral on the scale above the slot on the casing, the total amount can be readily ascertained.

It will be further understood that the use of this device is not limited to keeping time for pool and billiard tables as it may be used in factories, oflices, stores and other places for determining the amount due each employee for the actual time he has put in.

The invention claimed is:

1. A cost computing means for computing the total cost for the use of a single game table or a number of game tables sii'i'iultaneously for a specified time, including a cylinder having peripheral and transverse division spaces, series of similar amount designating numerals arranged peripherally of the cylinder, each succeeding series beginning in the next adjacent transverse divisional space to the beginning space of the previous series, and identifying graduations for designating the individual columns in which the total amount for each table is to be found.

2. A cost computing means for simultaneously computing the total cost for the use of a number of game tables or the like for different specified times, including a cylinder, having series of similar numerals arranged in columns thereon, and a casing having a slot therein for exposing to view certain of said designating numerals, and identifying graduations cooperating with the graduations of the cylinder for designating the columns in which the total amounts are to be found.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our signatures. I

MONROE W. SHILLING. MORRIS HENDERSON.

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