US2499237A

US2499237A - Adding device

Info

Publication number: US2499237A
Application number: US37654A
Authority: US
Inventors: Veatch Franklin; Melvin M Fink
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-07-08
Filing date: 1948-07-08
Publication date: 1950-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1967-02-28

Description

Feb. 28, 1950 F. VEATCH ET AL 2,499,237

ADDING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1948 O Q 0 0 00 0 0 O 0 00000 0" O o w L I o w swim 2 T I "F O /.5 2 0O 2 Z/ 0 4 O0 2 Q6 8\ O O O Y 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 JNVENTOR. FRANKLIN VEATCH MELVIN M. FINK seem 1 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 ADDING DEVICE Franklin Veatch, Cleveland, and Melvin M. Fink, Par-ma, Ohio Application July 8, 1948, Serial No. 37,654

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an adding device. More particularly the invention relates to a device having a single movable member to be rotated by the person using the device in accordance with the numbers to be added, and the sum of numbers automatically appear for reading without calculation. While the purposes for which the device may be used are many, and the range of the numbers to be added may be varied, the invention is adapted, for example, for adding bowling scores where the individual numbers to be added are not greater than about 200 and where the total sum is not appreciably greater than about 1200. The device may be constructed of plastic, wood, metals or other similar materials and is small in size so that it may be carried in a pocket and readily used at any other convenient time, such as during a bowling game.

The device consists essentially of a lower face member and an upper face member which are fastened together at the center and at the periphery, which members serve as a housing. A disc containing a series of numbers in a curved path is rotatably mounted between the upper and lower face members. The disc has holes on its periphery which may be engaged and rotated 'an amount corresponding to the number to be added. Mounted between the upper face member and the disc is a slide movable in a slideway formed in the upper face member; the slide contains a ratchet which is operated by a pawl on the rotatable disc. .A window ,in the slide appears over the numbers on the disc and through this window the sum is read.

As will be obvious from the description of the device more particularly hereinafter, the principle of the invention may be applied for adding numbers of various magnitudes and to produce any total sum, and while the device illustrated is particularly adapted for adding bowling scores it is to be understood that it may be adapted for many other purposes and may be varied in size and capacity without departing from the invention.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, together with the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the. following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a planview of an illustrative embodiment of a device constructed in accordance with the invention and shown approximately to scale with portionsof the upper facemember Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the central portion illustrating the manner in which the slide is moved by a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

The adding device shown in the drawings and constructed in accordance with the invention includes a lower face member I, an upper face member 2, a rotatable disc 3 and a slide 4. The lower face member I has a hole 5 in the center thereof, through which a pivot 6 in the form of a screw or rivet is held in place by a lower head 1 on the pivot 6. The lower face member I is round and has upwardly curled edges 8,

The upper face member 2 is similar to the lower face member in that it has a center hole 9 to receive the pivot 6 which has an upper head In. The periphery similary has downwardly curled edges as indicated at H. The upper face member, in addition, has two rectangular shaped openings l2 and 13 which serve as guideways for the slide to be described later.

On the lower face member I is an extension 14 and on the upper face member 2 is an extension l5, which extensions may be held together by a pin H3 or secured in any other way. The extensions are long enough and are appropriately spaced apart by the shoulder l5a so as to permit the disc 3 to rotate between the extensions such as shown more particularly at IT.

The upper and lower face members, being held together by the two headed pivot 6 and the extensions l4 and I5, are immovable relative to each other and serve as the housing for the rotatable disc 3 and for the slide 4.

The rotatable disc 3 is provided with a hole l8 in the center thereof and is mounted for rotation about the pivot 6. The disc extends beyond the upper and lower face members as shown at l9 except for the part ll which is enclosed between extensions I 4 and I5. Around the periphery of the disc are uniformly spaced holes 20. The holes are shown in only a portion of the disc in Figure 1 but in actual construction they extend uniformly around the periphery. The total number of holes in the illustrative embodiment in the drawings is 210, 201 of which are exposed beyond the edges of upper and lower face members, and 9 of the holes are in the portion of the periphery of the disc which lies within the extensions l4 and I5. It will be understood, however, that the number of holes ,need'loe only. holesjn the periphery of the 3 disc, and the number may be similarly increased or decreased. The width of the extensions M and i5 may vary so as to cover more or less than holes as this is not critical.

One of the holes on the disc is designated with an index mark 2| to differentiate it from all other holes. This may be a colored spot or an indentation in the circumference of the disc.

Mounted on the periphery of the upper face member are numbers equivalent to the number of holes in the periphery of the disc 2 exposed outside the extensions M and I5 as shown in Figure 1. These numbers as shown run from zero to 200 and are shown generally at 22-extending counter-clockwise from one side of the extension IE to the other side. Opposite each of the numbers are index lines shown at 23 leading to the holes 20. The numbers and index lines may be engraved upon the upper face of the upper face member or if this is of transparent material they may be marked on the inner face thereof. This is preferable to avoid wear. Alternatively, the numbers and index lines may beprinted on a paper or film which is secured to the inside of a transparentupper face member. Alternatively the numbers 22 may be on the inside of the upper face member, and the index lines on the outside'of thecurved portion l l.

A suitable pick or a sharpened lead pencil may be inserted in any of the holes and used to rotate the disc 2 while the device is being held by grasping the upper and lower face members with sufiicient pressure to hold it, but not to apply so much friction as would prevent rotation of the disc 3 between the face members I and 2.

The numbers which represent the sum are printed or otherwise marked on the upper surface of the disc 3. In the embodiment shown, the numbers follow a circular-spiral path and the lower numbers start at the inside of the circular-spiral path. The curved paths occupied by the numbers are indicated in Figures 1 and 3 in dotted lines, but not all of the numbers are included because of difficulty in illustration. Starting near the inner beginning of the circularspiral path as shown in Figure 1, is the number 21 0 and the numbers proceed in a circular path through the lower left and lower right quadrants to number 315 as shown, and are uniformly spaced in arithmetical progression. The numbers continue through the upper right quadrant in a circular path and then continue in the upper left qnadrant in a spiral path to the number 420. Thus, it will be seen that .210 numbers (the difference between 42.0 and 210 and the total number of holes in the periphery of the disc 3) are spaced in one revolution on the circular-spiral path. Three quadrants of this path are circular and the fourth quadrant is spiral leading to the next circumferentially spaced portion. In the next half turn, the numbers extend from 420 to 525, and similarly from 525 to 630 in the next half turn, following the same circular path for 24 of the numbers and a spiral path for the last 4th. The numbers from 420 to 630 (a difference of 210* which is the number of holes in the periphery of the disc.) are uniformly spaced around the cirvcular-spiral path. Similarly, the next row of figures extends from 630 to 840, and the next row from 1840 to .1050 following the same pattern, namely, a difference of 210 numbers uniformly spacedfor each revolution and arranged circular- 15 through of the path and spirally for the last fourth.

circular-spiral path must be related to the num- 4 ber of holes in the periphery of the disc 3. For instance, if there were 104 holes, four of the holes being covered by the extensions [4 and 15, one complete revolution of the numbers on the surface of the disc would differ by 104 numbers.

The numbers may be inscribed on the upper surface of the disc 3 by any means, such as printing or may be formed on a paper which is secured to the disc.

The slide will now be described which consists of a rectangular member generally indicated at lhaving two extensions 24 and 25, on each of which are mounted upwardly extending projections 26 and 2'! which extend into the rectangular slideways .12 and 1-3 in the upper face member 2. Thus, the slide 4 is permitted to move back and forth to the extent that the slideways l2 and I3 permit movement of the

projections

26 and 21.

Formed in the lateral extension 24 is a window or opening 28 and as the slide member is moved back and forth the numbers in the circular-spiral paths on the upper surface of the disc .3 will be exposed through this window. For instance, as the slide is moved progressively to the left in Figure l first number 210, then the number 420, etc., will be exposed through the window.

Also formed on the slide between the lateral extensions 24 and area series of ratchet teeth 29, 39, etc., the space between any two

teeth

29 and 30 being equal to the distance between two concentric paths of numbers on the upper surface of the disc .3. Mounted on the disc -3 is a pawl 31 which engages the

ratchet teeth

29, 30,

. etc., to move the slide to the left as the disc is turned in a clockwise direction. Thus, as the disc 3 is rotated, the pawl 3| will rotate therewith and engage the ratchet teeth 29, 30., etc., and move the slide 4 to the left. For each complete rotation of the disc 3 the slide will be moved to the left a distance equal to the space between the ratchet teeth or a distance equal to the space between two concentric paths of numbers on the upper surface of the disc 3. More particularly, as the disc is .moved in a clockwise direction the pawl 3| will engage the tooth 29 and move the slide to the left so that the window 28 will appear over and expose the number 210. When the disc 3 is again rotated one complete revolution in a clockwise direction the pawl 3| will engage the tooth30 and move a slide 4 so that the window 28 will appear over the figure 420 and soon.

.As the disc is being rotated the numbers on the curved paths which occupy a circular configuration, namely, the lower left, lower right and upper right quadrants, will appear in the window while the slide is stationary. The 'numbers'which appear in the spiral configuration in the upper left quadrant will be exposed in the Window while the slide is being moved to the left by the pawl 3|. This is shown more particularly in Figure 3 where the pawl 31 is moving the slide 4 to the left while the disc 3 is being rotated and while the numbers appearing in the window 28 are arranged in spiral configuration. The shape of the spiral is so arranged that the window in the slide moves to the left at the same rate as the numbers advance in the spiral so that there is always a number within the window.

In a typical operation of the device, the disc 3 is set with the hole marked with the index 2! adjacent extension i5 as shown in Figure 1, or at the zero position. In this position the'pawl 3! is out of 'engagementwiththeteeth of the slide, so that the slide can be manually moved -to its extreme right-hand position. If, for instance, the first number to be added is 190, a lead pencil is inserted in the hole of the disc 3 opposite the number 190 on the upper face member. The disc is then rotated clockwise until the pencil in the hole abuts the extension [5 or in other words to the position shown opposite the zero number. If the next number to be added is the pencil is inserted in the hole opposite 20 and the disc moved clockwise until the pencil abuts the extension l5. In this way, the disc will have been rotated a total of one complete revolution and the window 28 will have been moved one notch to the left and will appear over the figure 210 in the first circle. Since the disc will have been moved one complete revolution, the figure 210 on the disc will have been turned round exactly 360 and will occupy the same position as shown in Figure l. The slide, however, will have been moved to the left so the window 28 is over the figure 210. This shows the sum of 190 and 20. If the next figures to be added are 100 and 110 the disc will be turned in the same way and will have rotated a complete revolution bringing the figure 420 to the position shown in Figure 1 and the pawl will have indexed the slide 4 an additional position to the left so that the window will appear over figure 420. For any figures to be added under 200 the operation is the same and the correct figure will appear in the window, in view of the spacing of the figures in the circular-spiral paths in the manner explained.

When all the numbers are added, and it is desired to use the device again, it is necessary only to turn the disc so that the index mark 2! is adjacent the extension l5 and in this position the pawl 3| will be free so that the slide can be moved back to the right in the position shown in Figure 1.

It will be obvious that instead of arranging the figures on the surface of the disc in a circular-spiral path they may be arranged in a truly continuous spiral and that instead of the pawl 3| a pinion with gear teeth may engage teeth on the slide 4 so as to move the slide to the left in a continuous manner in the same rate at which the figures advance in the spiral path. Alternatively, a friction drive might be employed. These embod ments permit the slide to be moved to the right as the disc is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, so that numbers may be subtracted by rotating the disc in the opposite direction from that used in addition. A row of numbers from 200 to 0 beside the row of numbers from 0 to 200 can be placed on the upper face member 2, to be used when subtractions are to be made. In another embodiment utilizing the same principle of our invention, the disc 3 has a groove in a spiral or circular-spiral path following the path of the figures and a projection on the slide 4 fits in the groove so that the slide 4 is moved to the left as the disc is rotated. The embodiment shown in the drawing, however, is believed to be the most convenient form since it permits a ready resetting of the slide when the pawl 3| is out of engagement with the teeth.

We have described the device with a capacity for a total sum as well as the individual numbers to be added that are in relation to bowling scores and the total sum of such scores in an ordinary game. It will be obvious that by varying the spacing of the holes 20 or by increasing the size of the device, larger or smaller numbers may be added at one sequence. In addition, by providing a greater or lesser number of turns in the circular-spiral path and a greater number of teeth on the slide, the total number of figures represented on the disc which represents the sum which may be added, may be increased.

Having described our principle of the inven tion and the best method in which we contemplate applying this principle, the following claim is appended which is directed to the improvement which we regard as our invention or discovery.

We claim:

An adding device comprising a circular lower face member and a circular upmr face member having a slideway therein, means for joining said upper and lower face members together at the center thereof and at a point on the edge thereof whereby they are held in non-rotatable position relative to each other, a rotatable disc extending beyond said face members throughout the periphery of said disc except at the edge point where the face members are joined, perforations on the periphery of said disc, numbers on the periphery of the upper face member spaced in accordance with the perforations, figures uniformly arranged in a convoluted path in which the number of figures in each convolution is equivalent to the number of holes in the periphery of the disc, the major portion of each convolution of said path being circular and the minor portion being spiral leading to the next circular portion, a slide having ratchet teeth formed therein and mounted for movement in said slideway over said figures, a window within said slide through which one of said figures may be read, and a pawl movable with said disc and acting on said ratchet teeth to advance said slide during the time the spirally arranged figures appear in said window so that the window will always appear over the numbers in said curved path.

FRANKLIN VEA'ICH. MELVIN M. FINK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,722 Dalton et a1 Nov. 28, 1893 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 157,086 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1932 872,006 France Jan. 29, 1942