US992925A - Calculator. - Google Patents

Description

L. B. THOMAS.

CALCULATOR.- APPLIOATION FILED APR. 11. 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911.

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Patented May23, 1911.

L. B, THOMAS.

'GALGULATOR. APPLIOATION FILED APR.11, 1910.

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CALCULATOR.

Patented May 23, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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www'zooao LIITHER B. THOMAS, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

CALCULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed April 11, 1910. Serial No. 554,773.

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, LUTHER B. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shreveport, in the county of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact. description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 4 v

This invention relates to improvements in calculators.

The object of the invention is to provide a calculator constructed and arranged to,

afford an absolutely accurate and almost instantaneous means for ascertaining the value of various-quantities of merchandise at dif ferentprices per pound, yard, bushel, and the like. I

With this and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a calculator constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the parts arranged for indicating the price of certain quantities of goods at certain prices; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating another form of the calculator and showing the parts shifted for indicating the price of other quantities of goods at other prices; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional .view of the calculator on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1; Fig. {l is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3 and on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of another form of the calculator; Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view through the same.

In the embodiment of the invention I provide a suitable frame or case 1 which may be of any suitable shapeand which is preferablyprovidetlwith a glass or other cover plate 2. A The frame or case 1 may be suported in any suitable manner the same being shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing as adapted to be laid down fiat on a table.

or counter. Arrangedin the frame or case and secured to the under side of the glass cover plate 2 or secured at their opposite ends to the sides of the frame as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings are a series of strips 3 said strips being spaced at suitable distances apart and extending transversely across the frame or case as shown. The strips are divided across their length into a series of spaces in each of which is arranged one or more numerals indicating certain quantities of goods such' as pounds, yards, bushels, etc. In the present in stances two numerals are arranged .one above the other in each of the spaces on the strips said numerals beingarranged consecutively in numerical order across the strips as shown.

Slidably mounted in the frame or case immediately below the strips 3 is va card t which is divided into horizontal lines or spaces corresponding to 'the' spaces between the strips 3. In the spaces next to one or both edges of the card ais arranged series of numbers which indicate the prices per pound, yard, bushel or other unit of measure of the goods. In the spaces between the spaces containing the prices along the outer edges of the card are arranged the total cost or price of the quantities of goods indicated in the spaces above on the strips 3, at the price per pound, yard or the like indicated by the number at the opposite ends of the line along the edges of the card. Thus to ascertain the price of five pounds of. merchandise at 14 cents a pound it would simply be necessary to glance along the line of numbers in which the 1% cent price number is placed until the space below the five pound space on the strips 3 immediately above this line is reached when it will be seen'that the lower number of the space immediately below the fivepound space of the strip will indicate'the cost of the five pounds at. 14 cents per pound which-as will be seen is 70. In this manner the cost of any number of pounds-at any price per pound indicated on the calculator may be quickly. and accuratelyascertained.

As shown in the drawings the card 4 is of less length than the fram or case thus permitting said card to be shifted a suf ficient extent to bring the lines of unit values or prices and total costs back and forth beneath the strips 3 which are arranged and spaced in the frame for this purpose. In other words it will be understood that only one-half of the unit price and calculated costs are exposed at one time.

This arrangement provides for a maximum number of calculations in a minimum amount of space.

Arranged in the base or back of the case beneath the card 4: is a backing 5 which is preferably formed of a layer of felt or other yielding or elastic material which serves to hold the card 4 into close engagement with the under side of the strips 3. If desired suitable springs 6 may be arranged in the opposite edges of the frame to engage the adjacent edges of the card 4 whereby the latter will. be yieldingly held in its adjusted position. In order to operate the card 4 the latter has secured to one or both of its ends a tab 7 of metal or other suitable material which projects through a slot 8 formed in one or both ends of the frame whereby said tab may be grasped and the card thus shifted to the desired position. In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings the cardt is shown as having secured to its under side a centrally disposed reinforcing strip 9 the opposite ends of which project through slots 10 in the opposite ends of the frame and form tabs by means of which the cards may be shifted.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the calculator frame isshown as being arranged in-a verti- -cal position-and secured at the top or upper end to a desk where the same may be readily seen by a person using the desk. In the'form of the calculator shown in Fig. 2 the movable price card has connected to one side an operating handle 11 which projects through a slot 12 in the edge of the frame as shown. The handle 11 may be secured to the card in any suitable manner and takes the place of the tabs and strips hereinbefore described for operating or shifting the card.

In Figs.5 and 6 of the drawings the calculator frame is shown as being hingedly connected at its lower edge to the supporting plate 13 upon which the frame may rest in a horizontal or fiat position or may be supported in an inclined position by hinged brace bars 14 which are-connected to the opposite side edges of the frame and plate as shown. The plate 13 is pivotally mounted on a circular disk or supporting base 15 whereby said plate and frame may be rev'olved in either direction to bring the calculator into the desired position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the. construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

,Having. thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a calculator, a frame having a rectangular recess and a communicating opening extending to one edge of the frame, a rectangular, transparent plate secured in the frame over said recess, a series of parallel strips secured in spaced relation to the under surface of said transparent plat/e, said strips having on their upper exposed surfaces numbers representing quantities or units of measure, a rectangular card slidably mounted in the frame beneath said strips, said card containing numbers representing unit and total prices of goods, a handle extending laterally from one edge of said card and working in said opening in the frame, a layer of elastic material in the bottom of the recessed portion of the frame and in con tact with the under surface of said card, and leaf springs arranged in the frame beneath the opposite side edges of said card to 'assist the layer of elastic material to press the card against said strips.

2. In a calculator a supporting plate, a frame or casing hingedly connected at one end to said plate, a series of strips secured in said casing, said strips having arranged thereon numbers representing quantities or units of I measurement, a card slidably mounted in said frame, beneath said strips said card containing numbersrepresenting unit and total prices of goods, a reinforcing strip arranged below and secured to said card, said strip having its ends projecting through the sides of said casing to form handles whereby said card may be shifted to bring the numbers thereon into cooperati've relation and to the numbers on said strips,.braces to hold said casing in an inclined position on said supporting plate, a base plate arranged below said supporting plate and means to pivotally connect said supporting plate withsaid base plate whereby the calculator may be revolved and brought to any desired position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' LUTHER B. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

Z. G. PAGE, L. H. PInKLn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. G.

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