US3708898A

US3708898A - Indicating device

Info

Publication number: US3708898A
Application number: US00072916A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cornelius V Wayland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-09-17
Filing date: 1970-09-17
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09

Abstract

A resettable character indicating device is of the type, for example, usable in an automobile for recording mileage at a given time. A disclosed embodiment contains three windows or apertures for indicating the unit, tens and hundreds digits of mileage. The device is made from a single sheet of cardboard or the like which is punched at predetermined locations with apertures or holes for receiving an axle bearing member and character bearing discs. Certain of the apertures are located to provide windows for display of the characters on the discs while other apertures are located to allow extension of an edge of the disc therethrough when the sheet is carefully folded along prepositioned fold lines.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Cornelius 14 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 INDICATING DEVICE 3,493,172 2/1970 Bromage ..23s/114 t V' W l [76] Inven or T1ecXto;64 2g and Cornelius, Eastland, Primary Examiner Robert w. Michell Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1970 Attorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [21] Appl. No.2 72,916 ABSTRACT US. Cl ..40/70 A resettable character indicating device is of the type,

2% I t Cl com 1 for example, usable in an automobile for recording -l e ge a a gi A disclosed embodiment 1 led of Search tains three windows or apertures for indicating the 40/1241; 116/133; 235/88 H4 unit, tens and hundreds digits of mileage. The device is made from a single sheet of cardboard or the like [56] References which is punched at predetermined locations with apertures or holes for receiving an axle bearing UNITED STA rES PATENTS member and character bearing discs. Certain of the 2,493,134 1/1950 Gruden ..40/l09 apertures are located to provide windows for display 2,016,445 10/1935 of the characters on the discs while other apertures 1,500,407 7/1924 are located to allow extension of an edge of the disc 2,755,576 7/1956 therethrough when the sheet is carefully folded along 2,839,860 6/1958 prepositioned fold lines. 3,079,7l5 3/1963 1,075,859 10/1913 Rosewater 40/70 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I l l 48 5O 52 PATENTEDJMI 9 I975 DESTINATIQN FIG. 3

FIG. 5

INVENTORZ /58 FIG. 6

AT TOHNL YS VICTOR W CORNELIUS I INDICATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to character display devices and more particularly to a simple, convenient article of manufacture resulting in a character display register.

Devices of the general type disclosed herein are well known in the art. Several patents disclosing devices of lesser and greater complexity are available. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 258,897 discloses a character register to be used in conjunction with a calendar. U. S. Pat. No. 1,075,859 discloses an apertured member holding larger discs to be used as a game counter. Additionally, U. S. Pat. No. 1,918,631 discloses a single disc time table character register for determining arrival time of a train upon knowledge of its departure time from a given location. Other more complex character registers are disclosed in U. S. Pats. Nos. 3,016,641, 3,030,016, 3,365,818 and 3,493,172. However, all of the devices disclosed in the latter patents are rather complex and do not lend themselves to the novelty or advertising type character registers. They all require complicated manufacturing methods and comparatively sophisticated components, including gear trains and the like.

In contrast, it is desirable to have an easily manufacturable character register which can be mass produced. It is desirable for such an item to have as few manufacturing steps as possible while maintaining a certain appearance of quality and precision. It is further desirable to utilize as few a number of parts as possible in manufacturing such a device, thus further eliminating unnecessary cost items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, therefore, provides a simple and economic character register device comprising an elongated sheet member, the sheet member having fold lines transverse thereof and spaced at predetermined locations from each other and from the ends of the sheet member, the sheet member capable of being folded along said fold lines in an accordian manner in order to form a layered structure, the sheet member divided into first, second and third portions by the fold lines, the first portion associated with axle means for receiving at least one character disc, and character discs mounted on said axle means, the second portion adjacent the first portion having aperture means therein for exposing a character on a character disc at a predetermined position when the second portion is folded back upon the first portion, the second portion having an elongated aperture therein through which an edge of the character disc is capable of extending when the third portion is folded back upon the second portion, the third portion adjacent the second portion having aperture means therein corresponding to the aperture means in the second portion when the third portion is folded back upon the second portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of the invention can be derived by reading the ensuing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the sheet member of the present invention after the various apertures have been punched therein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of the present invention after the axle means and character discs have been positioned on the sheet member;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device as it appears in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing it partially folded;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an axle carrying member; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of the fully assembled device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description is in relation to a preferred embodiment having a three character register. As will be readily understood after reading the ensuing specification, many alterations and variations can be made without departing from the original intent of the present invention. The invention disclosed herein is to be limited only by the definition of the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a sheet of cellulosic composition material or like material, for example cardboard, is illustrated. The sheet member 10 can be punched as shown or can be prepared in multiples side by side, for example, five or six of the sheet members can be simultaneously punched, and thereafter cut along the edges 12 to form a single member. The sheet member 10 in blank can be composed of, for example a top surface layer of a vinyl material and a bottom surface layer of semi-rigid cardboard material to which the upper decorative layer, such as vinyl, is adhesively secured. Of course, it is to be understood that only a single layer of cardboard can be utilized if desired; however, a vinyl top layer will provide a much more attractive device.

The sheet member 10 is subjected to a cutting or punching process by appropriately configured die which places score lines at predetermined positions on the sheet member in addition to punching the apertures in the sheet member as shown. In the preferred embodiment, three score lines l4, l6, and 18 are placed on the elongated rectangular sheet member. The score lines are partial cuts through the vinyl and cardboard layers to facilitate folding of the sheet member 10 at the desired locations. The score lines in the preferred embodiment divide the sheet member 10 into first, second, third and fourth sections or

portions

20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively. The punching step further places an aperture 28 in the first portion 20 of predetermined size to accept an axle carrying member, shown in detail in FIG. 5. Aperture 30 is positioned in the second portion 22 of the sheet member 10. One edge 32 of the aperture 30 coincides with the score line 16. Aperture 30 is provided for the edges of the character discs to extend through as the sheet member is folded.

Referring briefly to FIG. 5, a side elevation view of the axle carrying member is shown. A base portion 34 has located thereon a plurality of axles 36. Of course, it is to be understood that any number of axles from one to a plurality can be mounted on the base portion 34. Preferably base portion 34 is a unitary molded synthetic polymeric material, such as polyethylene or nylon. The base portion 34 of the axle carrying member is inserted into aperture 28 with the axles thereof extending upwardly from the face of the sheet member 10. The axle carrying base member 34 is secured in the aperture 28 by an adhesive tape member 38 placed across the rear side of the sheet member (best shown in FIG. 3).

Character discs

40, 42, and 44 are rotatably positioned on the axles 36. The lower edges of the

character discs

40, 42, and 44 extend across the score line 16 and above the aperture 30 in the second portion 22 of the sheet member 10. Aperture 46 is provided in portion 22 so that when the portion 22 is folded back against the portion 20, the axle members will extend into but preferably not completely through the aperture 46 to assist holding the character discs on the axles. Additionally, a tension strip 47 is placed across the

character discs

40, 42, and 44 and adhesively secured at its ends to the top surface of portion 20. Tension strip 47 further aids in positioning and holding the character discs on the axles 36.

Apertures

48, 50, and 52 are provided in portion 22 to correspond to character locations on

character discs

40, 42, and 44 respectively when the second portion 22 is folded back upon the first portion 20.

Apertures

54, 56, and 58 in the third portion 24 correspond and register with the

apertures

48, 50, and 52 when the third portion 24 is folded downwardly and back upon second portion 22, thus revealing characters through the apertures or

windows

54, 56, and 58.

Referring now jointly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the manner of assembly of the character register device of the present invention will be discussed. Double backed adhesive strips are positioned at various locations on the surfaces of the four portions of the sheet member 10 so that when the sheet member 10 is folded in an accordian manner in the direction of arrows 60 (FIG. 4) the four

portions

20, 22, 24, and 26 will adhere to each other forming a unitary character indicating device. Preferably double backed adhesive strips are utilized. These strips are of the type wherein adhesive is applied to both sides of a tape and at least one side of which is provided with a protective backing. A first such adhesive strip 38 is applied to the rear side of portion 22 to retain the axle carrying base member 34 in aperture 28. The protective sheet (not shown) is then removed so that when portion 26 is folded into contact with portion 20 it will be adhesively secured thereto. Similarly, a double sided adhesive strip 62 is applied to the top surface of portion 22 so that

portions

20 and 22 can be adhesively bonded when folded upon each other. Likewise, a double sided adhesive strip 64 is applied to the bottom surface of portion 22 so that when front or third portion 24 is positioned against the back of portion 22 it will be adhesivcly bonded thereto. After the same manner, an adhesive strip 66 can be applied to the back of fourth portion 26. However, in this situation the protective backing 68 is left on the strip until it is desired to position the device, for example, on an automobile sun visor or the like. At that time, the protective backing 68 is removed and the indicating device positioned against the visor.

Optionally, an ordinary paper staple can be utilized to additionally

secure portions

20 and 22 together. In this instance, the staple would be inserted at a position corresponding to the arrow and dotted line 69. When such a staple is utilized, however, a curl results which in this instance would be positioned on the back side of portion 20 at location 70. Aperture 72 is provided to face ;of the portion 24. The printed. matter can be placed on the character register device either prior to or after cutting the apertures and score lines in the sheet member 10. As the

character discs

40, 42, and 44 are rotated, for example by moving with a thumb, different characters as desired will appear in the

apertures

54, 56, and 58 in the front portion 24.

As can be readily seen, many alterations and variations of the present device can be manufactured without departing from the essence of the invention. The invention, therefore, is limited only by the appended claims wherein What is claimed is:

1. An indicating device comprising:

an elongated sheet member having a transverse fold line thereacross dividing said sheet into first and second portions, said first and second portions being approximately the same size and adapted when said sheet is folded along said transverse fold to form a layered structure with said second portion overlying said first portion,

character-disk mounting means including an elongated base member having a plurality of integral axles spaced from each other longitudinally along said base member,

said first portion of said sheet defining an elongated receiving slot therein,

means for securing said base member in said receiving slot with said axles extending upwardly from the surface of said first portion,

a plurality of character disks each rotatively and removeably mounted on one of said axles and having a peripheral section adapted for manual actuation,

an elongated aperture in said sheet adjacent said fold line and positioned to receive the peripheral sections of said character disks therethrough when said sheet is formed in said layered structure,

said second portion of said sheet having a plurality of viewing apertures therein each positioned to expose a character on one of said character disks when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, and

means independent of said axles for securing said sheet in said layered-structure form.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said character disk base member is secured in said receiving slot by an adhesive backed tape applied over said receiving slot to the side of said first portion remote from said second portion when said sheet is formed in a layered structure.

3. The device of claim .2 further including a flexible member applied across said device over said first portion to hold said disks on said axles.

4. The device of claim 3 further including a third portion of said sheet foldably attached to said second portion in said layered structure and adapted to further strengthen said device.

6. The device of claim 5 including means for securing said device in a position of use comprising double backed adhesive affixed on the exposed side of said fourth portion when said device is formed in said layered structure.

Claims

1. An indicating device comprising: an elongated sheet member having a transverse fold line thereacross dividing said sheet into first and second portions, said first and second portions being approximately the same size and adapted when said sheet is folded along said transverse fold to form a layered structure with said second portion overlying said first portion, character-disk mounting means including an elongated base member having a plurality of integral axles spaced from each other longitudinally along said base member, said first portion of said sheet defining an elongated receiving slot therein, means for securing said base member in said receiving slot with said axles extending upwardly from the surface of said first portion, a plurality of character disks each rotatively and removeably mounted on one of said axles and having a peripheral section adapted for manual actuation, an elongated aperture in said sheet adjacent said fold line and positioned to receive the peripheral sections of said character disks therethrough when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, said second portion of said sheet having a plurality of viewing apertures therein each positioned to expose a character on one of said character disks when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, and means independent of said axles for securing said sheet in said layered-structure form.

3. The device of claim 2 further including a flexible member applied across said device over said first portion to hold said disks on said axles.

4. The device of claim 3 further including a third portion of said sheet foldably attached to said second portion and having a plurality of apertures therein corresponding to said apertures in said second portion wherein said third portion is adapted to overlay said second portion in said layered structure to strengthen said device and to provide a finished surface on said device.

5. The device of claim 4 further including a fourth portion foldably attached to said first portion wherein said fourth portion is adapted to overlay said first portion in said layered structure and adapted to further strengthen said device.