US3083906A - Device for converting values of one unit system into equivalent values in another system - Google Patents

Description

' of interest obtainedat a specified interest rate.

Unite 1 States aterrt DEVICE *Fon "coNvEnTrNo VALUES F oNE UNIT SYSTEM INTO EQUIVALENT VALUES IN ANGTHER SYSTEM Roland Giuntini, 712 5 ParkDrive-E,Flushing, N.Y. Filed Nov. 17, 1961,'Ser.' No. 152,983 2 Claims. (Cl.'235-89) This' invention relates to 'a device for converting a value of one unit system into an'equivalent value in another system. For example, the device may be used to convert a sum of money of one nation into an equivalent sum of money of another nation. Another example is the conversion *ofcapital sums 'of m'oney into the amount Dtheruses will suggest themselves from the very nature of thedevice.

The present inventors' Patent 2,689,685, dated-September 21, 1954, discloses such a device. When of convenient sizethe' device of this patent has a range of value coveragelimitedto a degree making its extension desirable. 7 One objectof the present invention is to provide anew "device of thecharacterdescribed, but having a valuerange number ishorizontally followed by theproduct of 'the numbenmultipliedbythe"conversion factor and these product 'numbers'are vertically aligned. The support may comprise a card which may be substituted by others relating to difierent systems or conversion 'fiactors. A'cover is provided'tor'this supporflandthis cover is slidably connected with the support carrying the table so that the cover and support arerelatively shiftab-le the horizon: tal direction of the (table. This support has means for obscuring visibilityof at least one and prcfenably more of the vertical rows of the ver-ticallyaligned' digits of the first-named numbers, and means for simultaneously obscuring the vertically aligned digits of the productnum- 'berswhich are in excess of the products of the unobs'cured portions of the first-named numbers multiplied by the conversion .factor.

The above has the advantage over the patented device that by shifting the support and cover to obscure the last vertical row of numbers their values are reduced. Shifting to obscure the last two vertical rows further reduces their values, and so on. Each shift causes the product numbers to be correspondingly reduced as required to obtain correct results. Thus the range of any table is substantially extended without comparably enlarging the physical size of the support and cover. Opposite shitting effects number value increases, of course.

A specific example of the new device is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the support carrying the table and the product numbers multiplied by the conversion factor, the support being in the dorm of a card;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover for the table, this being in the form of a fiat sleeve;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the device with the card inserted slidably in the sleeve;

FIG. 4 is \a plan view showing the card inserted in the sleeve and with the two elements. shifted relative to each other to indicate the lowest values provided by the device;

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 but shows the device ice the two parts soshifited asto ifidicate themext higher range of'values accommodated by thedevice; and

-FIG." 6 corresponds-to FIGS. 4' and 5 but showsa modi- -fie'ation-w-ith the parts-arranged to indicate a still higher r'ange'of ."v'al-ues.

Referring to these drawings, in FIG. lthetableis car- -ried-'by-a card l. This may be a flat sheet of relatively rigid-paper, plastic'or other material suitable for carrying printed matter. 'The' table is a printed on this card and 10' -2a,' 2b, 2c'=and 2d. ln this ca'se the-table is "in the form is broken to form dour horizontally interspaced columns of a mathematical progression of French francs, starting with the multiple digit value of 100' fnancs in the column 2a and terminating-at the-bottom of thecolumn 2d with lOiOOWdrantz-s. Horizontally'tfollowing each number of francs isthdequivalent in Us cents, obtained by rnulti- --plying-the number in the-(francs column by the current exchange rate.

'Thus each of-the columns previously mentioned is followed'by the product numbers also forming horizontally intenspaced -coluinnsf3a,- 3b, 3c and 3d.

' Itcan be seen that the-numbers in the columns 211 through-2d forlntheventical table starting withthemulth --ple digit-number and that'eachn'umber ishorizontally followed by the product ofthis number multiplied by the conversion diactor. The numbers inall columns are vertically aligned in a mathematical manner. That isto say,

the --extreme right-hand digits are vertically aligned.

The cover for thiscard 1 and its table, is provided by a"fiat-sleeve 4. Both horizontal ends-of this sleeve-are 'open and the sleeve is shaped and dimensioned-so that the stance such-as niight be used- "to-make a transparent envelope, for example.

When' 'the card :1 is inserted in the sleeve 4 the entire table wouldbe visible-were-it not that the'sle'eve 4 hes vertically extending bars 5a; 5b, Sc-and 5d applied toit Each of the bars'fia' through 5d is =locatedon the sleeve 4 sons-to obscure visibility of one on-more ventical'r'ows of the vertically aligned digits ofthe columns'za through -2d, there being one' b ar for each column of the table representingthe (francs. As shown;the bars Sa'through 5d are wide enough to obscure visibility of two of the digits of each number, as required to reduce the first number to its minimum value of one. To provide this obscuring effect the card '1 must be slid to proper position relative to the sleeve 4 which acts as the cover tor the table.

The sleeve 4 carries a corresponding series of horizontally interspaced vertical bars 6a through 6d which, in each instance, provides a means for obscuring the vertically aligned digits of the product numbers, or in this case cents, which are in excess of the products of the unobscured portions of the horizontally aligned numbers, here representing francs. These bars 6a through 6d are located relative to the bars 5a through 50. so that when the card and sleeve are slid relative to each other to obscure one or more of the digits of the numbers of the columns of frames, the properly correspoding numbers of cents in the horizontally following numbers, are correspondingly obscured.

To provide greater convenience, the cover 4 at locations properly spaced to the left of each of the bars 6;: through 6d, carries vertical decimal point indicating lines 7a through 7d, one for each of the bars 60 through 6d. These lines may be printed or impressed or otherwise applied to the material of the sleeve 4. In this fashion the decimal point is indicated as required to separate dollars from cents. correspondingly, the decimal point for any system of values may be indicated.

In the modification shown by FIG. 6 the decimal point is indicated by the use of transparent coloring material applied to the sleeve 4 in the form of bars a, Sb, 8c and 8d of suitable width one for each of the bars 6a through 6d. The coloring material may be applied to the trans parent material of the cover in any suitable fashion.

It is apparent from the above that other forms of covers might be used for the columns for the table and product numbers, and it need not be transparent providing it forms what are, in effect, windows revealing the various numbers in the same manner as is done by the transparency of the cover or sleeve shown.

In operation, as shown by FIG. 4, to obtain the lowest possible values, the sleeve and the card are horizontally shifted relative to each other so as to obscure all but the first digit of the first of the numbers of the system to be converted, this being one franc in the illustrated example. With the table shown this provides a range of from 1 to 100 francs together with the corresponding dollars and cents values in US. currency. Shifting the pants one step further, as shown by FIG. 5, jumps the range from 10 to 1000 francs and, as shown by FIG. 6, a one digit further shift extends the range from 100 francs to 10,000 francs.

Thus it can be seen that the device embraces the very large range or extent of values of from 1 franc to 10,000 francs. It can obviously handle a correspondingly large range when the values are other than money. At the same time, with the card 1 located with its edges flush with those of the cover or sleeve 4, the illustrated device is only about /2 incres long horizontally and 2 /2 inches high vertically, thus permitting it to be contained easily in the pocket or average wallet. The card itself need not be in folded form to provide the great range described. A comparable form is possible in the case of other systems of units such as capital sums to be translated into equivalent amounts of interest and the like.

The various vertical columns can each relate to a separate system or to the use of a separate conversion :factor such as different rates of interest. Dimensions may be changed and other variations made, such as the use of opaque material having windows as previously indicated, all as best suits the use for which the device is intended.

Often, devices of this character are given away by airlines and the like. This is done for good will and advertising purposes. With this in mind, it is appropriate to mention that the device of the present invention may carry advertising on the reverse side of the card 1 which, when the cover or sleeve is made of transparent material, is plainly visible. correspondingly, advertising may be applied to the back side of the cover, this being particularly so if this is made of opaque material provided with windows as previously suggested.

It is possible to provide the device in a fonm comprising the cover or sleeve portion and a plurality of cards, each bearing tables concerning different systems. 'For example, when the device is used to translate sums of currencies, each card may relate to a different country. It is even possible to extend the table concerning any one system and conversion factor beyond the very large values inherent to the present invention, by continuing the table on other cards, although this would ordinarily be unnecessary.

-I claim:

1. A. device for converting a value of one system of units into an equivalent value in another system of units requiring the use of a conversion factor, said device including a card marked with a vertical table comprising a mathematical progression of vertically aligned numbers starting with a multiple digitnumber and with each number horizontally followed by the product of the number multiplied by the conversion factor and with these product number-s vertically aligned, said table further continued as columns which are each horizontally displaced with respect to the preceding column, and a cover for said table comprising a transparent fiat sleeve in which said card is slidable and removably inserted and which is slidably connected with said support so as to be shiftable in the horizontal direction of the table, said cover having means formed by substantially opaque vertical strips on said sleeve \for obscuring visibility of at least one vertical row of the vertically aligned digits of the first named numbers and means for simultaneously obscuring the vertically aligned digits of the product numbers which are,

in excess of the products of the unobscured portions of the first-named numbers multiplied by said conversion factor, said support having said rneans for each of said selections.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said sleeve has means thereon for visually indicating the decimals of said product numibers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,847 Harper Oct. 19, 1926 2,553,338 Shaw May 15, 1951 2,689,685 Giuntini Sept. 21, 1954 2,023,956 Rondthaler Mar. 6, 1962

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE FOR CONVERTING A VALUE OF ONE SYSTEM OF UNITS INTO AN EQUIVALENT VALUE IN ANOTHER SYSTEM OF UNITS REQUIRING THE USE OF A CONVERSION FACTOR, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING A CARD MARKED WITH A VERTICAL TABLE COMPRISING A MATHEMATICAL PROGRESSION OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED NUMBERS STARTING WITH A MULTIPLE DIGIT NUMBER AND WITH EACH NUMBER HORIZONTALLY FOLLOWED BY THE PRODUCT OF THE NUMBER MULTIPLIED BY THE CONVERSION FACTOR AND WITH THESE PRODUCT NUMBERS VERTICALLY ALIGNED, SAID TABLE FURTHER CONTINUED AS COLUMNS WHICH ARE EACH HORIZONTALLY DISPLACED WITH RESPECT TO THE PRECEDING COLUMN, AND A COVER FOR SAID TABLE COMPRISING A TRANSPARENT FLAT SLEEVE IN WHICH SAID CARD IS SLIDABLE AND REMOVABLY INSERTED AND WHICH IS SLIDABLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORT SO AS TO BE SHIFTABLE IN THE HORIZONTAL DIRECTION OF THE TABLE, SAID COVER HAVING MEANS FORMED BY SUBSTANTIALLY OPAQUE VERTICAL STRIPS ON SAID SLEEVE FOR OSBCURING VISIBILITY OF AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL ROW OF THE VERTICALLY ALIGNED DIGITS OF THE FIRST NAMED NUMBERS AND MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY OBSCURING THE VERTICALLY ALIGNED DIGITS OF THE PRODUCT NUMBERS WHICH ARE IN EXCESS OF THE PRODUCTS OF THE UNOBSCURED PORTIONS OF THE FIRST-NAMED NUMBERS MULTIPLIED BY SAID CONVERSION FACTOR, SAID SUPPORT HAVING SAID MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID SELECTIONS.

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