Mechanical calculator
OwnerLuis Valenciainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical calculating apparatus for calculating an output based on a plurality of variables is provided. The apparatus includes a base member having a first plurality of indicia relating to potential values of the output and/or the variables, and a plurality of tabs independently movable with respect to the base member. The tabs have a second plurality of indicia relating to the potential values of the output and/or the variables, and the second indicia are alignable with the first indicia to indicate a value of the output based on the selected values of the variables.
Claims15
A mechanical calculating apparatus for calculating an output based on a plurality of variables, the apparatus comprising:
- a base member having a first plurality of indicia relating to potential values of the output and/or the variables;
- and
- a plurality of tabs independently movable with respect to the base member, said tabs having a second plurality of indicia relating to the potential values of the output and/or the variables, said second indicia alignable with the first indicia to indicate a value of the output based on selected values of the variables.
The apparatus according to claim, wherein:
- said tabs include a first tab disposed within said base member adjacent to a first edge thereof a second tab disposed within said base member adjacent to a second edge thereof, and a third tab disposed within said base member between said first and second tabs and spaced apart therefrom;
- said base member comprises a first variable indicator with a plurality of first variable values located along said first edge thereof and an output indicator with a plurality of output values locate along said second edge;
- said first tab includes a second variable indicator with a plurality of second variable values located adjacent to said first variable indicator for alignment therewith and a first alignment mark;
- said second tab includes a third variable indicator with a plurality of third variable values located adjacent to said first alignment mark for alignment therewith and a second alignment mark;
- said third tab includes a fourth variable indicator with a plurality of fourth variable values adjacent to said second alignment mark for alignment therewith, and a third alignment mark spaced apart from the fourth variable indicator and adjacent to said output values on said base member for alignment therewith.
A method of calculating an output based on a plurality of variables using a mechanical calculating apparatus including a base member having a first plurality of indicia relating to the potential values of output and/or the variables, and a plurality of tabs independently movable with respect the base member, the tabs having a second plurality of indicia relating to the potential values of the output and/or the variables, the second indicia alignable with the first indicia to indicate a value of the output based on selected values of the variables, the method comprising:
- sequentially arranging each of the tabs with respect to one another to align the second indicia on each of the tabs with the first indicia of the base member and with the second indicia on neighboring tabs;
- and
- indicating the output based on the arrangement of the tabs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.