Chart Holder

Abstract

A rotating drum mounted on a stand wherein charts containing columnar material are attached to the drum to be rotated past a horizontally extending indicator crossbeam. Indicia peculiar to the columnar chart is located on the crossbeam as well as movable indicators to allow interpolation of the columnar data or solutions of problems involving the columnar data. Heretofore, when large tables of columnar material, such as logarithmic tables, time tables or similar conversion tables, have been used it has been necessary to print these in large multipage books wherein continuity therebetween is lost in leafing through pages. Similarly, when arranging data in columns on many paged books it is often necessary to duplicate the horizontal and vertical entries into the data as well as some of the data to achieve some sort of continuity between subsequent pages of the data.

Description

The present invention relates to a chart holder that comprises a large rotating drum mounted on a stand therefor. The outer circumference of the drum is adapted to receive an enlarged chart of columnar data or such tabulated indicia. The large outer surface of the drum allows an extremely large sheet of data to be applied thereon which would allow complete series of indicia to be arranged in one column thereby preserving the continuity necessary in entering such columns of data from a horizontal or vertical entry system. Similarly when computation is necessary between adjacent columns of data complete series thereof arranged in adjacent columns is possible. The chart holder has a crossbar or beam arranged along the length of the surface of the drum to provide a ruling or reference line to be used with the data on the drum surface. Additional indicia for use in cooperation with indicia on the drum may be located on the crossbar or beam with adjustable indicators and slides mounted on the crossbeam to coordinate the indicia on the crossbeam with the indicia on the drum surface.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple but unique holder for large charts of columnar material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chart holder wherein large quantities of columnar material can be presented in continuous uninterrupted form.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the present chart holder.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an oppositely directed side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a disassembled perspective view illustrating the components of a channel member and slidable indicating means adapted to be mounted thereon .

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the invention is generally denoted by reference numeral 10 which is seen from FIG. 2 to include a cylindrical hollow drum 12 having transverse closed ends 14 and 14'. Considering each transverse end of the chart holder, as seen in FIG. 1, a circular bracket 16 is mounted to the left end of the cylindrical drum 12 by means of suitable fasteners such as the bolts 18. A shaft 20 which is integrally attached to the bracket projects perpendicularly outwardly therefrom. As will be appreciated from viewing FIG. 1, identical components 14'-20', corresponding to components 14-20 are similarly assembled to the right end of the cylindrical drum 12.

In order to support drum 12, a frame is provided which includes two parallel and transversely aligned lazy tong-type legs 22 and 22'. The legs include longitudinally aligned pivot points which are connected by a suitable bar 24. A rectangular frame 26 is removably secured to the top end of the legs by means of suitable fasteners 28. As will be appreciated, removal of the fasteners 28 allows separation of frame 26 from the leg assemblies 22 and 22' so that the assemblies may be folded into a more compact package.

Suitable bearing members 30 and 30' are mounted to medial portions along the transverse edges of rectangular frame 26. The shafts 20 and 20' are respectively connected to the interior race of the bearings, as indicated by 32 in FIG. 2. Two vertically oriented and longitudinally aligned brace members 34 and 34' are suitably fastened to transverse edges of rectangular frame 26 at points intermediate the bearings and the frontward edge of the rectangular frame, as indicated by 36.

The upper edges 38 and 38' of the brace members 34 and 34' are downwardly inclined at an angle approximating 45 degrees. Apertures 40 are formed in the edges 38 and 38' in order to mount an elongated channel member 42 having apertures 44 formed immediately adjacent the transverse ends which correspond to the apertures 40. Suitable fasteners are employed to connect the channel member 42 and the brace members 34 and 34'.

A first hollow parallelepiped slidable member 45 including an arrow indicator 46 attached thereto is normally mounted on the channel member 42 and retained at a predetermined position along the channel by means of a setscrew 48 which is adapted to bear against a first flange 50 of the channel member 42. In operation of the device, the sliding member 45 is positioned, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the arrow emphasizes a particular columnar data entry on a table or chart which is peripherally mounted to drum 12. It should be mentioned that although the present invention permits efficient utilization of large maps and other diagrammatic charts, the present sliding member is particularly useful when presenting tabulated or columnarized data.

A second hollowed sliding member 52 includes a straight end 54 and a concave end 56. A double arrow indicator 58 having arrowheads oriented in opposite directions is suitably mounted to an outward edge 60 of the curved end 56 as seen in FIG. 4. The downward lateral side 61 of the second sliding member 52 mounts an additional arrow indicator or interpolating pointer 62 pointing downwardly. Another interpolating pointer or arrow indicator 64 which is mounted to the lower edge of the straight end portion of sliding member 52 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to indicator 62. It will be noted that the arrow indicators 58 and 62 extend for a length approximately equal to one space unit corresponding to the width of a space on a chart mounted to drum cylinder 12. The last mentioned arrow indicator 64 is curved downwardly and inwardly so that the arrowhead thereof is spaced a distance approximately equal to one horizontal and one vertical unit from arrow indicator 58. It is preferred that arrow indicator 64 be fabricated from a flexible material so that it may be deformed to point to one of several adjacently positioned columnar entries on a mounted chart. Reviewing FIG. 1, four horizontally spaced arrow indicators may be positioned in a manner emphasizing certain columnarized data entries on a chart positioned on drum 12.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a handwheel 66 is axially mounted to an extended section of shaft 20'. The handwheel permits manipulation of the cylindrical drum 12 to a desired position. In order to retain the drum in a preselected position, apertures 70 and 70' are formed in the lower end portion of brace members 34 and 34', respectively. An elongated bar 68 passes through the apertures so that it is rotatably mounted between the brace members. Viewing FIG. 1, the left end of the bar includes a handle portion 76 which allows an individual to rotate bar 68. The opposite end 72 includes a friction pad 74 or the like which normally engages the circumference of handwheel 68. Viewing FIG. 3, it will be noted that rotation of handle portion 76 causes disengagement between friction pad 74 and the handwheel thereby permitting free rotation of drum 12 by manipulating handwheel 66. When a preselected position of the drum is acquired, corresponding to a particular position of a chart mounted thereon, the handle is released which urges the friction pad to reengage handwheel 66 thereby, once again, retaining the drum 12 in a preselected position.

It is often desirable to head a chart by a heading, legend, set of numbers, or the like. This is easily accomplished by inserting a strip of paper or like material into the channel recess defined in member 42. Thus, although the data on the chart mounted to drum 12 is rotatable, the heading remains in stationary view by virtue of its stationary mounting within the channel member.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for mounting a sheet having data imprinted thereon comprising a stationary frame, a horizontally orientated cylinder having transverse ends, the cylinder permitting mounting of a data sheet thereon, bearing means connecting the transverse ends of the cylinder and the frame to permit rotation of the cylinder, handle means connected to the transverse ends for facilitating rotation of the cylinder to a preselected position, brake means for retaining the cylinder in a preselected position, an elongated horizontally positioned member supported by the frame adjacent the cylinder, the member being disposed in parallel spaced relation to the axis of the cylinder, the member being adapted to receive an elongated strip of heading data, slide members mounted on the member, indicator elements mounted to the slide members and extending toward the cylinder for denoting particular data positions on a mounted sheet thereby assisting in data interpolation when necessary, the frame including a pair of parallel spaced and transversely aligned lazy tong leg assemblies, each assembly having a pivot point, pin means connecting the pivot points and a rectangular frame removable fastened to the top of the leg assemblies for connecting the bearing means thereto, wherein removal of the rectangular frame allows collapsing of the leg assemblies to form a more compact package.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the frame further includes normally vertically positioned and parallel spaced brace members connected to the rectangular frame in longitudinally aligned relation for supporting the channel member.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein the handle means includes a handle wheel mounted in axially spaced relation to one transverse end of the cylinder.

4. The device set forth in claim 3 wherein the brake means includes an elongated bar rotatably mounted between the brace members, one end of the bar having a handle element for manipulating the brake means, and a friction pad connected to an opposite end of the bar, the pad being adapted to selectively engage the handle wheel thereby causing braking of the cylinder when the handle element is manipulated.

5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein the indicator elements are in the form of arrow markers.