US3559305A - Grade averaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

AN AVERAGING DEVICE INCLUDING A HOUSING ENCLOSING VERTICALLY STACKED ELONGATED HORIZONTAL PENALS INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORTED FOR LONGITUDINAL FOWARD ADVANCEMENT FROM A FIRST STORAGE POSITION THROUGH A SECOND VIEWING POSITION. THE REAR EDGE PORTION OF EACH PANEL AND THE FRONT EDGE PORTION OF THE NEXT LOWER PANEL INCLUDE COACTING STUCTURE FOR FORWARDLY ADVANCING EACH OF THE LOWER PANELS IN TRAIN FASHION BEHIND THE NEXT UPPER PANEL AS THAT UPPER PANEL IS FORWARDLY ADVANCED PAST THE VIEWING POSITION WITH ITS REAR EDGE PORTION VERTICALLY REGISTERED WITH THE FRONT EDGE PORTION THE NEXT LOWER PANEL AND THE PANELS MAY THUS BE SUCCESSIVELY ADVANCED IN TRAIN FASHION THROUGH THE

VIEWING POSITION. THE HOUSING INCLUDES FIRST INDICIA SPACED ALONG THE VIEWING POSITION AND SECOND INDICIA AT THE VIEWING POSITION SPACED ALONG A LINE DISPOSED NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PANELS WITH WHICH THE UPPER VIEWABLE SURFACES OF THE PANELS ARE REGISTRABLE.

Description

Feb. 2, 1971 c. s. MUNDELL 3,559,305

GRADE AVERAGING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l

so as 54 Clyde 8. Manda/l 4 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,559,305 GRADE AVERAGING DEVICE Clyde S. Mundell, R.D. 1, Box 107, Carmichaels, Pa. 15320 Filed July 23, 1969, Ser. No. 843,936 Int. Cl. G091) 23/00 U.S. C]. 3548 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An averaging device including a housing enclosing vertically stacked elongated horizontal panels individually supported for longitudinal forward advancement from a first storage position through a second viewing position. The rear edge portion of each panel and the front edge portion of the next lower panel include coacting structure for forwardly advancing each of the lower panels in train fashion behind the next upper panel as that upper panel is forwardly advanced past the viewing position with its rear edge portion vertically registered with the front edge portion of the next lower panel and the panels may thus be successively advanced in train fashion through the viewing position. The housing includes first indicia spaced along the viewing position and second indicia at the viewing position spaced along a line disposed normal to the direction of the advancement of the panels with which the upper viewable surfaces of the panels are registrable.

The grade averaging device comprises a relatively compact elongated housing in one end of which vertically stacked panels are individually supported for forward advancement toward the other end of the housing and the upper wall of the housing includes a viewing opening through which forwardly advanced panels may be viewed. The device is provided wtih X and Y axis indicia which are stationary relative to forward advancement of the panels and the panels themselves are provided with X and Y axis indicia registrable with the stationary indicia.

The stationary indicia supported from the housing and the movable indicia on the cards are registrable with each other and the X indicia on the panels and extend lengthwise of the latter and are continuous as the cards are positioned in end-to-end relation. Accordingly, a continuous reading of the movable X axis indicia on the cards is readable through the viewing window as the cards are sequentially forward advanced into registry with the viewing window.

The main object of this invention is to provide a compact averaging device which may be readily utilized to perform various averaging tasks but which is particularly well adapted to establish an average of the grades given a plurality of examination or test papers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an averaging device in accordance with the immediately preceding object and including structural components which will not be subject to excessive wear.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an averaging device which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the averaging device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of two of the Patented Feb. 2., 1971 longitudinally slidable panels of the averaging device and the vertically shiftable insert upon which the stationary X and Y axis indicia are formed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through the center of the averaging device;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken subtsantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the viewing window portion of the averaging device;

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of adjacent ends of two of the panel members of the averaging device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the averaging device of the instant invention. The device 10 includes a housing referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 provided with upstanding opposite side walls 14 and 16 interconnected by means of top and bottom walls 18 and 20 as well as opposite end walls 22 and 23.

The inner surfaces of the side walls 14 and 16 define horizontal longitudinally extending opposing grooves 14' and 16 and a plurality of generally horizontal panel members 24 are slidably supported in the grooves 14 and 16'.

The center portion of the top wall 18 is cut away as at 26 to form a viewing window and an upstanding partition 28 is slidable longitudinally of the housing 12 within the latter. One end of an elongated pull rod 30 is secured through the partition 28 and the other end portion of the pull rod 30 is slidably received through a bore 34 formed in the remote end wall 23 and has a backturned eye defining portion 36 thereon.

From FIG. 2 of the drawings, it may be seen that the forward end of each of the panels 24 includes an upstanding transverse tongue 38 and that the rear end of each of the panels 24 includes a depending transverse tongue 40. From FIG. 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the depending tongues 40 are engageable with the upstanding tongues 38 of the panels 24 disposed therebelow and it will also be noted from FIG. 3 of the drawings that the panels 24 are receivable in vertically stacked relation within the rear end of the housing 12 adjacent the end wall 23 with only the forward end portions of the panels 24 registered with the rear end of the opening or window 26. In addition, the window is of a length generally equal to the length of the panels 24 and the front end of the housing 12 forward of the window 26 is also of a length generally equal to the panels 24.

A verticaly shiftable generally U-shaped insert referred to in general by the reference numeral 44 is provided and includes front and rear walls 46 and 48 interconnected by means of an upstanding side wall 50. The upper marginal edge portion of the side wall 50 includes an outturned flange 52 defining a lifting handle and the lower marginal edge portion of the end wall 46 includes a laterally outwardly downwardly inclined surface 54 viewable from above along which indicia 56 are disposed. In addition, the lower marginal edge portion of the side wall 50 includes a similar downwardly and outwardly inclined surface 58 along which indicia 60' are spaced.

Each of the panels 24 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 62 and longitudinally spaced X axis indicia 64 as well as Y axis indicia 66. The indicia 64 are registrable with the indicia 60 and the indicia 66 are registrable with the indicia 56. Further, as will be observed from FIG. 7 of the drawings, the uppermost panel 24 has its pattern of indicia continued on the next lowest or left hand panel 24 illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Likewise, it is to be understood that the panel 24 disposed immediately beneath the left hand panel 3 24 of FIG. 7 is provided with X and Y axis indicia forming a rearward or left hand continuation of the indicia 64 and 66 formed on the left hand panel 24 in FIG. 7.

The indicia 60 comprise the numbers 50 through 100 formed along the surface 58 and the indicia 56 comprise the numbers 3-l2 formed along the surface 54, see FIG. 5. Further, there are fifty oepnings 62 in each of the panels 24. From FIG. 3 of the drawings it may be seen that there are twelve panels 24 corresponding to the indicia 56 and it may be seen from FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 of the drawings that the insert 44 is supported upon the uppermost panel 24 registered with the opening 26. The insert 44 drops down to the next lowest panel 24 as each panel 24 is forwardly advanced into the forward end of the housing 12 forward of the opening 26. In this manner, the indicia 56 and 60 are maintained in close proximity with the X axis and Y axis indicia 64 and 66 formed on the panel 24 registered with the window 26.

When a plurality of grades are to be averaged, the rod 30 is pulled to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 of the drawings after the insert 44 has been lifted out of the opening 26 so as to position all of the panels 24 in vertically stacked relation in the left hand end of the housing 12 with only the forward ends of the panels 24 registered with the opening 26. Then, the insert 44 is placed Within the opening 26.

Before the insert 44 is replaced within the opening or window 26, the uppermost panel 24 is slid forward into full registry with the window 26. Then, after the insert 44 has been placed in position, the averaging device 10 is ready to be utilized in averaging up to twelve grades.

In entering the first grade to be averaged, a stylus or similar implement is inserted in the opening 62 registered with that indicia 60 corresponding to the grade. Then, the stylus is moved to the right until it engages the lower edge of the surface 54. Then, the next grade to be entered is entered by placing the stylus in the opening 62 registered with the corresponding indicia 60 and the stylus is again moved to the right into contact with the lower edge of the surface 54. Each time the panel 24 with which the stylus is engaged is shifted to the right, the downwardly projecting transverse tongue 40 on the rear end of that panel is engaged with the upstanding transverse tongue 38 on the panel 24 disposed immediately therebeneath so as to also shift the panel 24 immediately beneath the uppermost panel 24 to the right. After all of the grades have been entered, the number of grades entered is noted and the Y axis indicia 66 registered with the indicia 56 corresponding to the number of grades entered is the average of the grades entered.

Of course, the device 10 may be constructed so as to be provided with many additional panels 24 whereby a greater number of grades may be averaged. Also, inasmuch as the average grades of test papers or examinations 1s usually higher than fifty, the length of the panels 24 and the number of the openings 62 as well as the length of the insert 44, the window 26 and the housing 12 may be reduced.

By individually mounting the panels 24 for longitudinal shifting of the housing 12, there is no tendency of movement of an upper panel 24 to move a lower panel 24 except by engagement of one of the tongues 40 with the next lowest tongue 38. Also, it will be readily appreciated that quantities other than test paper grades may be averaged by utilizing the device 10 and further that if a greater number of panels 24 is utilized, the width of the housing 12 mustv necessarily be an increase so as to accommodate an end wall such as end wall 46 with a greater number of indicia 56 thereon.

The device 10 may be readily constructed of inexpensive materials and at low manufacturing costs. Further, the components of the device 10 are such that the latter may be used many, many times without a malfunction occurring.

The foregoing is considered as il ustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An averaging device including a support structure defining first, second and third areas thereof, a plurality of vertically stacked panels individually supported in said first area and for independent movement through said second area to said third area, each pair of adjacent panels, when the upper panel is in predetermined advanced position relative to the next lower panel, including coacting means defining a one-way connection therebetween for shifting the next lower panel from said first area to said second area in response to movement of the panel thereabove from said second area to said third area, each pair of adjacent panels including indicia thereon reading continuously along the path of movement of said panels between said second and third areas when said upper panel of a pair of adjacent panels is in said predetermined advanced position relative to the next lower panel, said support structure including indicia in said second area registrable with the indicia on said panels as the latter are positioned in said second area, the indicia on both said panels and support structure including X aris indicia extending along said path and Y axis indicia extending transversely of said path.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a housing in which said panels are contained during their movement between said first and third areas, said panels and housing being generally horizontally disposed and said housing being elongated including a top wall beneath which said panels are disposed, said path extending between the opposite ends of said housing and said second area being defined by a viewing window formed in said top wall generally centrally intermediate its opposite ends.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said support structure includes an insert supported from said housing for vertical shifting through said window and being supported from beneath by the panel portions registered with said window, said indicia on said support structure being defined on said insert.

4. The combination of claim 1 including means movably supported from said support structure actuatable to engage and urge all of the panels from said third area to said first area.

'5'. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting means includes depending tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from said third area and upstanding tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from said first area, the depending tab of the upper panel of adjacent panels being engageable with the upstanding tab on the panel therebelow.

'6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a housing in which said panels are contained during their movement between said first and third areas, said panels and housing being generally horizontally disposed and said housing being elongated including a top wall beneath which said panels are disposed, said path extending between the opposite ends of said housing and said second area being defined by a viewing window formed in said top wall generally centrally intermediate its opposite ends, wherein said housing includes upstanding opposite side Walls extending longitudinaly thereof, said side walls including means defining inwardly opening longitudinally extending and vertically spaced grooves extending along their inner surfaces, said panels each including a pair of opposite side longitudinal marginal edge portions slidingly supported from a corresponding pair of said grooves.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support structure includes an insert supported from said housing for vertical shifting through said window and being supported from beneath by the panel portions registered with said window, said indicia on said support structure being defined on said insert.

8. The combination of claim 7 including means movably supported from said support structure actuatable to engage and urge all of the panels from said third area to said first area.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said coacting means includes depending tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from said third area and upstanding tabs carried by the portions of said panels remote from said first area, the depending tab of the upper panel of adjacent panels being engageable With the upstanding tab on the panel therebelow.

References Cited 10 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner J. H. WOLFF, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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