US3694943A

US3694943A - Plurimillenary automatic universal calendar having time division reproducing scales of a slidable type

Info

Publication number: US3694943A
Application number: US1832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Domenico De Filippo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-01-13
Filing date: 1970-01-09
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03
Also published as: NL7000465A; GB1301721A; FR2028200A1; DE2000957A1; CA920359A; CH536009A

Abstract

A plurimillenary universal calendar comprising a support carrying one or more symbol scales for time periods, as well as a plurality of members slidable relative to the support, on each of which are placed one or more scales of other symbols of time periods, wherein each scale comprises subdivisions which are geometrically equal to one another and to those on the other scales, and being the calendar structurally set on the basis of an ideal year beginning on March 1st and ending on February 28th or 29th, on its scale each symbol is spaced apart from the chronologically preceding symbol by as many subdivisions as the week days passing between the beginnings of the two time periods to which said symbols are related.

Description

United States Patent De Filippo 3,694,943 Oct. 3, 1972 Inventor: Domenico De Filippo, .-Via San Filed: Jan. 9, 1970 Appl. No.: 1,832

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jun. 13, 1969 Italy ..4910l A/69 Oct. 25, 1969 Italy ..49124 N69 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Landman. ..40/ 109 Millington ..40/1 14 X Krueger ..40/77.4

2,299,698 10/1942 Halperin et a1. ..40/l14 X 2,421,513 6/1947 Lofstrom ..4Q/77.4

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 663,351 4/ 1929 France ..10/ 109 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. I-l. Wolff Attorney-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT A plurimillenary universal calendar comprising a support carrying one or more symbol scales for time periods, as well as a plurality of members slidable relative to the support, on each of which are placed one or more scales of other symbols of time periods, wherein each scale comprises subdivisions which are geometrically equal to one another and to those on the other scales, and being the calendar structurally set on the basis of an ideal year beginning on March 1st and ending on February 28th or 29th, on its scale each symbol is spaced apart from the chronologically preceding symbol by as many subdivisions as the week days passing between the beginnings of the two time periods to which said symbols are related.

5 Claims, 37 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHBT I912 SHEET 5 BF 6 FIG. 22

PLURIMILLENARY AUTOMATIC UNIVERSAL CALENDAR HAVING TIME DIVISION REPRODUCING SCALES OF A SLIDABLE TYPE onlythe week day corresponding to a predetermined date.

It is the object of the present invention to obviate said drawbacks.

To this end, the calendar according to the present invention provides a plurality of number carrying scales showing the days of the month, centuries, decennia, year units, and a plurality of mark carrying scales showing the days of the week and months of the year.

The arrangement of these number and mark scales, as well as the mutual positioning between the several scales, obtained by causing them to slide relative to one another, allow for automatic calendar reading. Particularly, the present invention relates to a plurimillenary universal calendar comprising a support carrying one or more scales for time period symbols, as well as a plurality of members slidable with respect to the support, on each of which one or more scales for further time period symbols are placed, characterized in that each scale comprises subdivisions which are geometrically equal to one another and to those in the other scales, and in at, being the calendar structurally set on the basis of an ideal year beginning on March lst and ending on February 28th or 29th, each symbol is spaced on its scale with respect to the chronologically preceding symbol by as many subdivisions as the week days passing between the beginnings of the two time periods, to which such symbols are relates.

The features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, given by way of non limiting example, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views showing the scales for the days of the month, months, centuries and decennia, respectively;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the slidable member carrying the scale for the days of the month;

FIG. 5 is a view for a scale carrying numbers showing the years within about a period of years;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first modified embodiment for the calendar according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, l0 and 11 are views showing the scales for the days of a week, days of a month, months, centuries and decennia, and year units, respectively;

FIGS. 12, 12a and 12b .are front, rear and side sectional views, respectively, for a second modified embodiment of the calendar according to the present invention;

FIGS. 13, 13a and 13b are front, rear and side sectional views, respectively, of the supporting disc;

FIGS. 14, 14a and 14b are front, rear and side sectional views, respectively, of a first member rotatable with respect to the support;

FIGS. 15, 15a and 15b are front, rear and side sectional views, respectively, of a second member rotatable on the support;

FIGS. 16, 16a .and 16b are front, rear and side sectional views, respectively, of a third member rotatable on the support;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are front and rear perspective views, respectively, for a modified embodiment of the calendar according to the present invention;

FIGS. 20 and 22 are front and rear perspective viewed, respectively, for a first slider which is slidable within the support;

FIGS. 19 and 23 are front and rear perspective views, respectively, for a second slider which is slidable within the support;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view for a slider which is slidable within the first slider;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are fragmentary front and rear perspective views, respectively, for the supportand first slider which is slidable therein; and 1 FIG. 26 is a perspective view for a slider which is slidable within the support.

In its more complete embodiment, the calendar according to the present invention has an annular validity, i.e., once set (as better explained hereinafter) it will be valid throughout the year being involved.

However, in other embodiment thereof, it has a monthly validity and, accordingly, is set from month to month.

These monthly embodiment are disclosed hereinafter prior to the annual embodiment, for the I sake of clarity.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that in a first monthly embodiment the calendar according to the present invention comprises a board-shaped support 101 having three

guides

102, 103 and 104 on its not shown side.

On its shown side, support 101 has a horizontal aperture 105 centrally of said side. On a horizontal edge thereof, said aperture 105 carries words indicating the periods of time as related by the symbols of the scales associated therewith.

More particularly, such words are shown in following table:

Word Periods of time GS Days of the week GM Days of the month M Months S Centuries D Decennia UA Year units Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that support 101 comprises two

stationary scales

106 and 107 for the days of a week and year units, respectively.

Particularly, scale 106 is comprised of a column having seven lines. On each of these lines, a mark is shown as corresponding to a day of the week, starting from Monday and exactly as shown in the following table Mark Day LU Monday MA Tuesday ME Wednesday GI Thursday VE Friday SA Saturday DO Sunday Scale 107 is comprised of four columns, each of which having seven lines.

It should be noted that scale 107 (as well as the others to be shown hereinafter) is substantially a squared division. To this end, each square, containing or not a symbol (mark, number or digit), will be indicated by the term pigeon-hole."

Then, it will be seen that some pigeon-holes on scale 107 contain a digit, whereas other pigeon-holes are empty.

These digits represent the digit of the number unit designating a year being involved. Particularly, it will be seen that each digit appears twice, once with a point and the other time without any point. p

The meaning of this point will be clear in the following. It should only be noted that this point is effective only as a reference and might be replaced by any other reference means, such as digit coloringor overlining thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 2a, a first slider 108 carrying a scale 109 is shown. This scale is comprised of six columns and thirteen lines and on its pigeon-holes carries numbers from 1 to 31 representing the days of the month, as well as a reference arrow for the righthand adjacent scale.

At the bottom, slider 108 has guides 110 for insertion thereof into guides 102, thus being slidable with respect to support 101.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is showna second slider 111 carrying a scale 112 which is comprised of two columns, each having thirteen lines.

On the pigeon-holes of this scale, marks are shown indicating the months of the year, as well as a reference arrow for the righthand adjacent scale.

Marks and corresponding months are shown in the following table.

Mark Month GE January FE February MR March AP April MG May GI .lune

LU July AG August SE September OT October NO November DI December FIG. 4 shows the century scale 113 and decennium scale 114 as carried by a same slider 11$. Particularly, the century scale is comprised of eight columns, each having thirteen lines, on the pigeon-holes of which numbers from to 30 are shown, indicating the centuries from 0 to the thirtieth (in other terms, from year 0 to year 3,000). The decennium scale is comprised of Finally, it should be noted that the structure of

sliders

111 and 115 will be the same as that for slider 108, i.e., they will also be provided with guides for insertion thereof into support 101. Thus, said three

sliders

108, 111 and 115 will be slidable within

guides

102, 103 and 104, respectively, relative to support 101, this afiording the mutual positioning for the several scales described.

FIG. 5 shows a scale 116 comprised of four columns, each having seven lines. On its pigeon-holes, numbers from 65 to 87 are shown, the first digit in each number indicating the tens and the second the units of the years being involved.

This scale can replace the year unit scale, as explained in the disclosure for the operation of the calendar according to the present invention.

Particular reference is now had to FIG. 6, wherein a modified embodiment of the present invention is shown. More particularly, this calendar is still a fmonthly calendar. The calendar, as provided, comprises a cylindrical support 117, having-on its surface laterally of the two slightly increased diameter ends a first scale 118 for the days of the week and a second scale 119 for year units.

The calendar also comprises a first sleeve 120 rotatable on support 117, adjacent scale 118 for the days of the week, and carrying the scale l21 for the days of the month. A second sleeve 124, adjacent the former and carrying the scale 122 for the months, is rotatably mounted on support 117. A third sleeve 125, also rotatable on support 117, is interposed between sleeve 124 and that increased diameter end carrying scale 119 for the year units. Sleeve 125 carries the century scale 123 and the decennium scale 126. All of the scales as referred to on account of the calendar provided with a cylindrical support are shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. All that has been stated in connection with the straight slider calendar, also applies thereto. However, it should be noted that scales 121,122, 123 and 126 are comprised of seven lines instead of the thirteen lines as in

scales

109, 112, 113 and 114. The difference is only apparent, since the former are provided by the latter by simply removing the first three and last three lines, identical to the eigth, ninth and tenth lines and to the fourth, fifth and sixth lines, respectively.

As a result from the foregoing, although extensive a scale may be, it is structurally derived from a basic scale (such as the scales shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10), by merely approaching the last and first lines of two basic scales. The movement of a digit, number or mark on one line, of any number of pigeon-holes, will not atfect either the validity or the setting of a scale. The only symbol afi'ecting the structure of a scale are those for symbols moving along a column.

Reference is now made to FIG. 12b, wherein a side sectional view is shown for a second embodiment of a monthly valid calendar. FIGS. 12 and a are front and rear views, respectively, of said modified embodiment.

This embodiment comprises a supporting disc 127 (FIGS. 13, 13a and 13b) having on its shown side the scale 128 for the days of the month, a small aperture 129 formed as a sector arc, acting as a reference, and a notch 130 also formed as a sector arc.

FIGS. 15, 15a and 15b show a first disc-shaped member 131 which is rotatable about a pin 132 carried by the supporting disc 127. On its side 133, adjacent the supporting disc 127, this member 131 has the month scale 135 while at the opposite side it has a circular projection 134.

Member 131 has a radial projection 136 provided with a reference arrow on the side adjacent the supporting disc 127 An annular member 137, rotatable about the circular projection 134 of the first member 13, is shown in FIGS. 14, 14a and 141;. On its side intended to be exposed through notch 130 of supporting disc 127, this member carries the scale 138 for the days of the week and on at side opposite the former the scale 139 for the year units.

A third member 140 is shown in FIGS. 16, 16a and 16b. This member is in the form of a disc and rotatable about pin 132 carried by the supporting disc 127. Centrally of its shown side, the century scale 141 is provided with subdivisions so connected to the edge as to be involved by the reference arrow carried the first rotatable member 131, and the decennium scale 142 along the outer circumferential edge. The diameter of this member 140 is less than that of the sector-shaped member 137, so that the scale of year units 139 will be exposed. It should be noted that the calendar scales according to the last-mentioned modified embodiment only formally differ from those of the other two embodiment as previously described. Thus, it is possible to pass from one to another scale by applying the two following principles l. on any scale each symbol can be moved or repeated on the same scale at a spacing of seven pigeonholes, or at a spacing of a multiple of seven pigeon-hole number, still moving along the columns;

2. the respective positions for the scales as provided on the same support can be changed by sliding the scales relative to one another, as well as the reference arrows on the respective scales can be otherwise placed, provided that, as a whole, all of the movements being effected will compensate one another and will not cause any change in the position of the scale for the days of the month relative to that for the days of the week, the composition for the number of a year and setting for a month being unaltered and accomplished as described in the following.

The equivalence as mentioned between the several scales is found when examining FIGS. 7 16b.

Thus, scale 121 (FIG. 8) is identical to scale 128 I (FIG. 12). The reference arrow has been replaced by the small aperture 129. Scale 118 is equivalent to scale 138 in accordance with the first principle as above disclosed.

The month scale 122 (FIG. 9) is equivalent to scale 135 (FIG. 15) in accordance with the first principle and reminding that a symbol may be moved along one line without affecting thestructure of a scale. It is in this manner that the two straight columns of scale 122 in FIG. 9 become a single circular column for scale 135 in FIG. 15.

Scale 123 in FIG. 10 is equivalent to scale 141 in FIG. 12a, while the above disclosure in connection with

scales

122 and 135 applies to

scales

126 and 119 with respect to

scales

142 and 139 which are equivalent thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 26, the calendar according to the present invention will be described in the following in its annual embodiment.

This embodiment comprises a board support 143, internally having a plurality of guides for inserting such sliding members as hereinafter described.

On the front side of this support 143 there are ten squares 144 and two squares 145 corresponding to the 12 months in a year.

On the upper horizontal edge of each square 144 or 145, a wording MA is provided, indicating that month said square is relating to.

Squares 144 relate to the months from March to December and comprise corresponding stationary tables or scales 146, showing the days of week on five columns and seven lines.

Squares 145 relating to January and February have an aperture of the same size as said squares 145.

On the lefthand side of the month days scale 146, squares 144 have an aperture 147 of the same size as that of a column.

The rear side of support 143 has a single shaped aperture, formed of two approached

rectangles

148 and 149, the sides of which are parallel to those of support 143 (FIG. 18). On its lower edge, rectangle 148 carries wordings R indicating the centuries, decennia and years units, and on its upper horizontal edge the wording S indicating the year being involved.

Finally, on its lefthand side edge, it carries a reference arrow for the century scale of the year being involved.

On its lower horizontal edge, rectangle 149 carries the wordings T indicating the centuries, decennia and year units, and on its upper horizontal edge the wording Z indicating the year preceding the year being involved.

With reference to the FIGS. 20 and 22 a first slider 150 isshown slidable within a guide 151 of support 143. This slider comprises also two guides l52and 157 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday These scales are intended to appear through apertures 147 in

squares

144 and 145.

On the rear side of slider 150 and externally thereof a scale 155 for year units is placed and shown on enlarged scale in FIG. 22. This scale is intended to appear through the rear aperture 148 of support 143 at the year units for the year being involved. It is derived from scale 107 by adding three lines at the beginning and three lines at the end, as above explained. Therefore, this scale is equivalent to scale 107. On its rear side, slider 150 also comprises a reference arrow for the century scale of the preceding year.

A second slider 156 is shown in FIG. 21 and slidable within the guide 157 of slider 150. This slider carries the century scale 158 and decennium scale 159 intended to appear through the aperture 149 of support 143 corresponding to the centuries and decennia for the year preceding the year being involved.

It should be noted that these scales are inverted relative to

scales

113 and 114, i.e. they are obtained therefrom by exchanging the last with the first line, the last but one with the second line until all of the lines are exchanged.

In FIGS. 19 and 23 a third slider 160 is shown. It is slidable between support 143 and slider 150 and on its front side carries two scales 161 for January and February which are the same as scales 146 (with the exception of February scale which has 29 days). Further, this slider 160 is formed with two notches 160 so as to provide along with support 143 two apertures 147a of a same size as a column, and similar to apertures 147. On its rear side, slider 160 carries the year unit scale 162 intended to appear through the aperture 149 of support 143 at the year units for the year preceding the year being involved. As seen from FIG. 23, this scale is enlarged and inverted with respect to scale 107.

A fourth slider 164 is shown in FIG. 26. This slider is slidable within guide 165 of support 143 and carries the century scale 166 and decennium scale 167 intended to ear through aperture 148 at the centuries and decennia for the year being involved.

It will be seen that scales 166 and 167 are identical to

scales

113 and 114 and, finally, that

sliders

164, 160, 156 and 150 are provided with

notches

168, 169, 170 and 171, respectively, for positioning thereof.

Referring to the foregoing, the use will be described in the following for the calendar according to the present invention in its monthly and annual embodiments, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and assuming the

sliders

108, 111 and 115 as inserted within support 101 the operation is as follows a. Scale 114 is caused to slide relative to scale 107 until the digit showing the decennium for the year being involved (provided or not with a point) is on the same line as the unit digit for the year being involved (provided or not with a point). Thus, scale 113 will be automatically positioned by being fast with scale 114.

b. Scale 112 is caused to slide until bringing on he same line its reference arrow and number showing the century for the year involved of scale 113.

c. Scale 109 is caused to slide until bringing its reference arrow on the same line as for the month of the year being involved.

By these operations, the calendar for the month of the year being involved is automatically set for reading.

It should only be reminded that, as the calendar is set on the basis of an ideal year beginning on March 1st and ending on February 28th or 29th, the above operations for January and February should be accomplished as if the year were set for the year preceding that to which such months pertain. In case of doubt as to February which may have 28 or 29 days, by the same being described, the day of the week is determined as corresponding to the next March 1st which, for example is assumed to be a Thursday. Then, February is considered, reminding that for January and February the number is to be formed for the year preceding that to which these months pertain, and it will be found the 28th or 29 th day of this month falls on Wednesday. In the first case, February has 28 days, and in the second case it has 29 days. A similar method could be'adopted for any other month, where doubt should arise about the number of days included therein. As to succession of operations, the foregoing also applies to the two modified embodiments for the monthly mode.

Where it would be desired to a limit to few years, such as from 1965 to 1987, the validity term of the calendar (which as above described is valid from year I to year 3,099) the operation should be as follows a. For the first embodiment, for the sake of simplicity referred to as straight slider embodiment, the slider l 15 and scale 107 are removed and replaced by scale 116 (FIG. 5).

b. In the first modified embodiment, which for the sake of simplicity will be referred to as the cylindrical embodiment, scales 123, 126 and 119 are replaced by scale 116. I

c. In the second modified embodiment, which for the sake of simplicity will be referred to the disc embodiment, disc and projection 136 are removed, a reference arrow is marked on the rear side of disc 131, outwardly radially at one of symbols CT on the front side; the numbers for the year units are removed from the rear side of member 137, replacing it with the columns of scale 116, as arranged under one another, starting by number 65 which is to be marked on a pigeon-hole on the back side of which the symbol LU (MO) is marked and continuing in the direction to the pigeon-hole, on the back side of which the symbol MA (TU) is marked. Further, the straight slider calendar may be made more compact by using also its rear side. To this end, the year unit scale 107 is carried on the rear side of the week day scale and slider 115 carrying the century and

decennium scales

113 and 114 is placed on the rear side of the calendar by means of suitable grooves wherein said slider can slide. Moreover, by any expedient, the arrow on the support for the month scale is made visible from the rear side of the calendar.

Particularly referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation will now be described for an annual embodiment of the calendar.

Particularly, as from the foregoing description, this embodiment results from the straight slider monthly embodiment, and this for construction and clarity reasons.

In order to set the calendar to reading, the operation on its rear side is as follows a. Scale 166 is caused to slide until bringing the line showing the number for the century of the year being involved at the arrow carried by support 143.

b. Scale is caused to slide until bringing the digit indicating the unit for the year being involved (provided or not with a point) on the same line as that (provided or not with a point) indicating the decennium for the year being involved.

c. Scale 158 is caused to slide until bringing the line with the number for the century of the year preceding that being involved at the arrow carried by slider 150.

d. Scale 162 is caused to slide until bringing the digit indicating the unit for the year preceding that being involved (provided or not with a point) on the same line as that indicating (provided or not with a point) the decennium for the year preceding that being involved.

It will be seen that by operations (a) and (b) the number has been formed for the year being involved and by operations (c) and (d) that for year preceding it.

By the operations as described, the annual calendar for the year being involved has been automatically set on the front side of the calendar according to the present invention.

Particularly referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, the scales appearing in the several embodiments of the calendar will now be described in further detail.

The scales shown in these figures will be referred to as basic scales. Thus, all the other scales, as above described, are derived from the former according to the principles not altering the structure thereof.

Obviously, the week day scale 118 is the scale which may be defined as reference scale. Thus, each symbol on the remaining scales is spaced apart on its scale with respect to the chronologically preceding symbol by as many pigeon-holes (numbered along the columns) as the week days passing between the beginnings of the two time periods to which said symbols are related. Thus, the structure for the month day scale 121 will be apparent.

Between any one number and the preceding number an empty pigeon-hole never exists, since, as apparent, any one day and the chronologically preceding day may be referred to as any two consecutive days of the week.

The spacing of seven pigeon-holes between

days

8 and 7, and 14, and therefore the other numbers at similar positions, is apparent and can be seen by placing the second column just under the first, the third column under second column, etc.

Substantially, a displacement had been accomplished through seven pigeon-holes (or a multiple of seven) along the columns, as stated on disclosing the principle (a) of the two basic principles.

Similarly, the structure is checked for scale 122, where the marks indicating any two months are interspaced by as many pigeon-holes as the week day passing between the first day of the first month and the first day of the second month.

In this connection, it will be seen that where a month comprises 31 days, three week days will passbetween the beginning of this month and that of the next month; instead, where the month comprises days, two week days will pass between the same period.

The following table shows some examples (referring to year 1969) and associated pigeon-holes, the symbols of which are spaced apart from one another.

Month Preceding Days of the week Pigeoninvolved month hole October September (30) Tuesday-Wednesday 2 August July (31) Wednesday-Thursday Friday 3 May April (30) Wednesday-Thursday 2 June May (3 l Friday-Saturday- Sunday 3 Bearing in mind that a symbol can move freely on a line, the validity can be checked for the preceding table with reference to FIG. 9.

Particularly, as to January and February it should be reminded that to provide the monthly calendar for these two months, relative to certain year, the calendar has to be set on the year peceding the one being involved.

Because of this, the calendar according to the present invention is structurally set on an ideal year beginning on March 1st and ending on February 28th or 29th. Particularly, three pigeon-holes pass between January and February, since January has 31 days.

To justify the number of pigeon-holes between February and March, it should be remembered that February 28th or 29th of a determined year are in the calendar according to the invention the last day of the year preceding the one being involved and March 1st is the first day of the year being involved.

Thus, referring for example to years 1967; 1968; 1969 1970, as a result these years will be ideally considered as follows Year involved ldeal year 1967 March 1st, 1966 February 28th, 1967 1968 March 1st, 1967 February 29th, 1968 1969 March lst, 1968 February 28th, 1969 1970 March lst, 1969 February 28th, 1970 The days of the week corresponding to March 1st and February 1st being considered are as follows Beginning of Beginning of Days of Pigeon- February March the week holes February lst, 1970 March 1st, 1969 Sunday Saturday 6 6 February 1st, 1969 March 1st, 1968 6 6 Saturday Friday February 1st, 1968 March, 1st, 1967 6 6 Thursday Wednesday February lst, 1967 March lst, 1966 6 6 Wednesday Tuesday From the foregoing, it is apparent that this law is general on the basis of ideal year as referred to at the beginning. Moreover, that a year is a leap-year or not will not affect said law. The excess day of a leap-year is counted with the decennium and year unit scales. To this end, it should be noted that where the decennium is distinguished by an even digit, the unit digit for the leap-year is O, 4 or 8, while it is 2 or 6 where the decennium is distinguished by an odd digit.

Particularly, it is recalled that a digit indicating a decennium provided or not with a mark (a point in the present case) is associated with a digit for the year unit provided or not with a mark.

Thus, when considering for example the decennium 79, on scale (FIG. 1 l) the digits provided with a point are to be considered, as the decennium digit is odd.

It should be noted that

digits

2 and 6 are preceded by an empty pigeon-hole.

Indeed, from the foregoing the leap-years are 72 and 76, but for the ideal year being considered the surplus day (day 29) shall be calculated in the preceding years,

The same principle also applies to scale 116 (FIG. 5). This scale is readily provided by associating even digits with the digits free of marks on scale 129 and odd digits with those provided with a mark on the same scale.

Referring to the century scale 123, number appears twice. The number adjacent number 8 must be considered until October 4th, 1582, and then from October 15th, 1582, the number adjacent number 11. This is because the Gregorian calendar reform suppressed the days from October 5th to October 14th of that year in order to correct the defects in the preceding calendar.

Numbers from 1 to 15, relating to Julian calendar, are continuously subsequent, or do not leave any empty pigeon-holes, whereas numbers from 15 to 30, relating to Gregorian calendar, follow this rule on passing from a number to the next, a pigeon-hole is skipped, except in the case where the number is a multiple of four and the preceding one, which occupy two successive pigeon-holes.

In many countries the Gregorian reform was introduced later than 1582 for example, it was introduced in Great Britain in 1751, in Russia in 1918 and in Greece in 1923. Where the present universal calendar is intended to be used in one of the above mentioned countries, then the century scale 123 has to undergo an obvious slight modification the first portion has to be extended beyond number 15, following the rule of the Julian period, to the number indicating the century in which the reform was adopted and, in the second portion, the numbers are to be suppressed from 15 to that preceding the number corresponding to the century in which the reform was introduced.

When desired to reduce the validity period for the calendar, it would suffice to suppress from the century scale the numbers corresponding to the centuries not being involved. On the contrary, when desiring to extend the validity period beyond the century corresponding to number 30, the century scale should be added with the involved numbers subsequent to 30, following the rule of the Gregorian period.

As apparent, a year within the validity period of this calendar may have a varying number of digits from 1 to 4. The last righthand digit is the year units, the last but one is the decennium, whereas the number formed of the remaining digits is the century. Where the year has two digits, the century number is zero, and where is has only one digit, both the century and decennium digits are zero.

' lt will be seen that, where the century number and decennium and year unit digits are concomittantly null, then it should be understood that year 1 before Christ is involved; thus, from year 1 before Christ we pass to year 1 after Christ and not to year 0, which did not exist.

Now, the advantages of using the calendar according to the present invention will be apparent.

Owing to the particular structure of the scales, as well as the members carrying the same, only few slidings are required to provide automatically the monthly or annular calendars. Tables, symbol processing and mental calculations are completely avoided. All is already indicated on the calendar. It will further be seen that by suitably reducing or enlarging the scales, the calendar can be accommodated to any article. For example, in its cylindrical embodiment the calencard may be a pen or pencil body. It may also form an element in a writing-table service. It is to be noted that it may be made of any material according to requirements, such as wood, plastics, pasteboard, metal or the like.

Finally, it should be noted that many changes may be as to shape and material, as well as the mutual arrangement for the several members may be varied, without departing for this from the protective scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A plurirnillenary universal calendar comprising a support and a plurality of scales on said support, each of said scales comprising a member and indicia disposed thereon in at least one column each of which has at least seven equal geometrical divisions providing spaces between said divisions, said scales comprising:

a first scale having indicia 0 to 9 representing units of years arranged in spaces in four columns, each indicia being duplicated and appearing in two different columns and selected spaces being vacant,

a second scale adjacent said first scale and movable relative thereto in a column-wise direction, said second scale having indicia 0 to 9 representing tens of years arranged in spaces in two columns with selected spaces vacant,

a third scale adjacent and fixed to said second scale and having indicia 0 to 30 representing centuries to be covered by the calendar arranged in seven columns with selected spaces vacant,

a fourth scale adjacent and movable relative to said third scale and having 12 indicia representing months of the year arranged in two columns and an index adjacent said third scale for positioning said fourth scale in selected position relative to the third scale, fifth scale adjacent and movable relative to said fourth scale and having indicia from 1 to 31 representing the days of the month arranged in numerical order in five columns and an index adjacent said fourth scale for selectively positioning said fifth scale relative to said fourth scale, and

a sixth scale adjacent said fifth scale and stationary relative to said first scale and having indicia representing the days of the week arranged sequentially in one column,

said second scale being movable relative to the first scale to set the desired tens in alignment with the unit of desired year, the fourth scale being movable relative to the third scale to set the index of said fourth scale in alignment with the century of the desired year and the fifth scale being movable relative to the fourth scale to set the index of said fifth scale in alignment with the desired month on said fourth scale, whereby the days of the week are brought into proper alignment with the days of the month for the selected month and year.

2. A calendar according to claim 1, in which selected indicia of said first and second scales have identifying characteristics, the indicia of said second scale having such identifying characteristics being aligned with indicia of said first scale having like identifying characteristics in setting said second scale relative to said first scale.

14 5. A calendar according to claim 1; in which said support is flat, said first and sixth scales being fixed spaced apart on said support and said second and third, fourth, and fifth scales comprising sliders disposed between said first and fifth scales and slidable on said support in a direction column-wise of said scales.

Claims

1. A plurimillenary universal calendar comprising a support and a plurality of scales on said support, each of said scales comprising a member and indicia disposed thereon in at least one column each of which has at least seven equal geometrical divisions providing spaces between said divisions, said scales comprising: a first scale having indicia 0 to 9 representing units of years arranged in spaces in four columns, each indicia being duplicated and appearing in two different columns and selected spaces being vacant, a second scale adjacent said first scale and movable relative thereto in a column-wise direction, said second scale having indicia 0 to 9 representing tens of years arranged in spaces in two columns with selected spaces vacant, a third scale adjacent and fixed to said second scale and having indicia 0 to 30 representing centuries to be covered by the calendar arranged in seven columns with selected spaces vacant, a fourth scale adjacent and movable relative to said third scale and having 12 indicia representing months of the year arranged in two columns and an index adjacent said third scale for positioning said fourth scale in selected position relative to the third scale, a fifth scale adjacent and movable relative to said fourth scale and having indicia from 1 to 31 representing the days of the month arranged in numerical order in five columns and an index adjacent said fourth scale for selectively positioning said fifth scale relative to said fourth scale, and a sixth scale adjacent said fifth scale and stationary relative to said first scale and having indicia representing the days of the week arranged sequentially in one column, said second scale being movable relative to the first scale to set the desired tens in alignment with the unit of desired year, the fourth scale being movable relative to the third scale to set the index of said fourth scale in alignment with the century of the desired year and the fifth scale being movable relative to the fourth scale to set the index of said fifth scale in alignment with the desired Month on said fourth scale, whereby the days of the week are brought into proper alignment with the days of the month for the selected month and year.

3. A calendar according to claim 1, in which said support is cylindrical, said first and sixth scales being fixed spaced apart on said support and said second and third, fourth, and fifth scales comprising sleeves disposed between said first and sixth scales and rotatable on said support.

4. A calendar according to claim 3, in which all of said scales are of equal outside diameter.

5. A calendar according to claim 1, in which said support is flat, said first and sixth scales being fixed spaced apart on said support and said second and third, fourth, and fifth scales comprising sliders disposed between said first and fifth scales and slidable on said support in a direction column-wise of said scales.