Device for counting and calculating

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for counting and calculating, in particular with decimal numbers, comprising: at least one dial (11, 12) having numbers arranged one behind the other along a curve, beginning with a starting number and ending with a final number; and at least two rotatably mounted pointer elements (21, 22), which can be moved clockwise or anticlockwise substantially independently of one another, wherein at least two pointer elements (21, 22) are mounted for rotation about the same pivot (21a) and belong to a common dial (11). In order to simulate and demonstrate a mathematical denominational number system in as simple and clear a manner as possible, the device (10) comprises a step mechanism (40) which is designed to move at least one pointer element (21, 22) in steps, wherein each step is assigned a number, and one pointer element of the at least two pointer elements (21, 22) is an entraining pointer element and a further pointer element of the at least two pointer elements (21, 22) is a entrained pointer element, and the device (10) comprises an entraining mechanism which is designed to move the entrained pointer element by means of the entraining pointer element by one step if there is a trigger event, wherein the trigger event is defined by the entraining pointer element passing the starting number or the final number.

Description

[0001] Device for counting and calculating

[0002] The invention relates to a device for counting and calculating, in particular with decimal numbers, with at least one dial with digits arranged one after the other along a curve, beginning with an initial digit and ending with a final digit, and at least two rotatably mounted pointing elements which are adjustable clockwise or counterclockwise substantially independently of one another, wherein at least two pointing elements are rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation and belong to a common dial.

[0003] In order to teach children a mathematical place value system - especially a decimal system in the hundreds place - various teaching aids for representing numbers are used, such as the Russian adding machine, multi-system blocks, number line, hundred table, calculating wheel, hundred chain, Cuisenaire rods, abaco, Montessori bead material or the like.

[0004] Some of these teaching aids have many individual parts, require separate training, are confusing or not very clear and / or are complex to produce and use.

[0005] US Patent No. 1,619,849 A describes a clock-shaped arithmetic game featuring a dial with thirteen numbers from 0 to 12. Two rotating hands can be moved forward or backward independently of each other. A third hand randomly selects the arithmetic operation.

[0006] The AT 390 846 B shows a decimal clock with a dial with ten numbers from 1 to 10 and two hands which cannot be rotated independently in both directions.

[0007] Publications CN 111326050 A, US 2797047 A, WO 2004 / 029907 A1, and US 2533443 A disclose counting systems in the decimal system, consisting of several dials, each dial representing a single digit. The dials have the digits 0 to 9 arranged in a ring around the outer edge. The mechanisms are designed so that the individual digits are adjusted step by step, with no intermediate positions possible. Different spring mechanisms with locking elements are used for this purpose. When the dials are operated step by step by hand, the next digit is incremented by 1 when moving from 9 to 0. Each dial is mounted on its own rotational axis and can be adjusted individually.

[0008] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned and to create a device with which the place value system can be simulated and demonstrated in the simplest and most clear way possible.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention with a device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the device has a step mechanism which is designed to adjust at least one pointing element step by step, wherein each step is assigned to a digit, and in that one pointing element of the at least two pointing elements is a driving pointing element and a further pointing element of the at least two pointing elements is a driven pointing element, and in that the device has a driver mechanism which is designed to move the driven pointing element one step further by the driving pointing element in the event of a triggering event, wherein the triggering event is defined by the driving pointing element passing the initial digit or the final digit.

[0010] Working with the device is beneficial for practice and leads to a new or alternative intuition for counting and calculating. It requires no time-consuming assembly or preparation. The small number of individual parts allows for simple and cost-effective production.

[0011] The device may be essentially designed as a watch-like object.

[0012] At least one pointing element can be a pointer, as is familiar from analog clocks. Pointing elements designed as pointers, which point to numerals on a stationary clock face, have pedagogical advantages over rotating dials.

[0013] Alternatively, at least one pointing element may be formed by a pointer disc or a dial.

[0014] A pointer disc is a flat disc, for example, circular or circular-segment-shaped, that displays a pointer. The pointer can be painted, printed, or embossed on the disc.

[0015] Due to the step mechanism, the pointing elements are not continuously adjusted, but discontinuously, meaning they can be adjusted step by step. The pointing elements can therefore only assume stable positions, each of which is assigned to exactly one digit. Intermediate positions between the digits are unstable, meaning that the pointing element automatically snaps to the nearest digit. This allows the position of the pointing element to be clearly assigned to exactly one digit.

[0016] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) This avoids ambiguous interpretations and increases the reliability of the statement.

[0017] Each pointing element can be manually moved and adjusted independently of the other pointing elements. However, a driving pointing element and a driven pointing element are coupled to each other in such a way that the forward-rotating driving pointing element moves the driven pointing element forward one step when passing the final digit – for example, 9 in a decimal system – and the backward-rotating driving pointing element moves the driven pointing element backward one step when passing the initial digit – for example, 0. Forward rotation refers to rotation in the direction of increasing digit or number values, and backward rotation refers to rotation in the direction of decreasing digit or number values.

[0018] Advantageously, the moving pointing element is formed by a first pointing element and the moving pointing element by a second pointing element, wherein at least one triggering event is defined by the first pointing element passing the initial digit or the final digit, and wherein a ones digit is preferably assigned to the first pointing element and a tens digit is assigned to the second pointing element. In this way, the number range from 0 to 99 can be represented in a decimal system.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a rotatably mounted third pointing element, wherein the mechanism is configured to advance the third pointing element by one step upon a second trigger event, wherein at least one trigger event is defined by the second pointing element passing the initial digit or the final digit, wherein a hundreds place is preferably assigned to the third pointing element. In this way, the number range from 0 to 999 can be represented in a decimal system.

[0020] By providing additional pointing elements, thousands places, ten thousand places, hundred thousand places, etc. can be assigned to these additional pointer elements in an analogous manner and in this way larger number ranges can be represented.

[0021] In principle, the device is suitable for all bases greater than or equal to three. As an alternative to a decimal system, the digits can also belong to an octal or hexadecimal system. In an octal system, the final digit is, for example, 7; in a hexadecimal system, the final digit is, for example, F (which stands for 15).

[0022] REPLACEMENT DIAL (RULE 26) As with a conventional clock, all pointing elements can be arranged coaxially and mounted for rotation about a rotational axis. The device then has a single dial. Alternatively, at least two pointing elements can be mounted for rotation about different axes and belong to different dials.

[0023] The digits 0 to 9 in a decimal system, 0 to 7 in an octal system, or 0 to F in a hexadecimal system can be arranged in ascending order clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0024] The numbers can be arranged in a circular, circular arc, spiral or screw shape, for example.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the step mechanism has at least one locking element which engages in a step assigned to a respective number in a step element of a wheel, preferably a gear wheel, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pointing element.

[0026] A further embodiment variant according to the invention provides that the driver mechanism has a driver which is arranged on a driving wheel of a driving pointing element, wherein the driver pin engages in a form-locking element of a driven wheel of the driven pointing element when the triggering event occurs, wherein preferably the driving wheel and the driven wheel are arranged in different wheel planes.

[0027] In order to clearly indicate the change in position value, it is advantageous if the driver mechanism has a signal generator which is designed to emit a preferably acoustic signal in the event of at least one triggering event.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the non-limiting embodiments shown in the figures.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a device according to the invention in a second embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 3 shows a device according to the invention in a third embodiment;

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a device according to the invention in a fourth embodiment;

[0033] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) Fig. 5 shows a device according to the invention in a fifth embodiment;

[0034] Fig. 6 shows an actuating mechanism of the embodiments of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in an axonometric view;

[0035] Fig. 7 this operating mechanism in a frontal view;

[0036] Fig. 8 shows the actuating mechanism in a section along the line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7;

[0037] Fig. 9 a second wheel of the actuating mechanism in an axonometric view;

[0038] Fig. 10 shows a hub part of the actuating mechanism in an axonometric view;

[0039] Fig. 11 a drive wheel of the actuating mechanism in an axonometric representation;

[0040] Fig. 12 a first wheel of the actuating mechanism in an axonometric view;

[0041] Fig. 13 a first pointing element;

[0042] Fig. 14 a second pointing element;

[0043] Fig. 15 shows a first housing part of the device, viewed from the inside;

[0044] Fig. 16 shows a second housing part of the device, viewed from the inside;

[0045] Fig. 17 the device from Fig. 4 with cover plates removed in a front view;

[0046] Fig. 18 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0047] Fig. 19 this device in a section along the line XIX in Fig. 17;

[0048] Fig. 20 the device from Fig. 3 in a front view;

[0049] Fig. 21 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0050] Fig. 22 this device in a plan view;

[0051] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) Fig. 23 a device according to the invention in a sixth embodiment in a front view;

[0052] Fig. 24 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0053] Fig. 25 this device in a plan view;

[0054] Fig. 26 shows a device according to the invention in a seventh embodiment in a front view;

[0055] Fig. 27 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0056] Fig. 28 this device in a plan view;

[0057] Fig. 29 shows a device according to the invention in an eighth embodiment in a front view;

[0058] Fig. 30 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0059] Fig. 31 this device in a plan view;

[0060] Fig. 32 shows a device according to the invention in a ninth embodiment in a front view;

[0061] Fig. 33 the driver mechanism of this device;

[0062] Fig. 34 this device in a plan view;

[0063] Fig. 35 shows a device according to the invention in a tenth embodiment in a front view;

[0064] Fig. 36 the operating mechanism of this device;

[0065] Fig. 37 this device in a plan view;

[0066] Fig. 38 shows a detail of the actuating mechanism from Fig. 36;

[0067] Fig. 39 shows the actuating mechanism in a section along the line XXXIX - XXXIX in Fig. 38;

[0068] Fig. 40 shows a step mechanism in a variant embodiment in a section along the line XL - XL in Fig. 41;

[0069] Fig. 41 a second wheel of this stepping mechanism in a view;

[0070] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) Fig. 42 shows a step mechanism of a device according to the invention in a further embodiment in a cross-section; and

[0071] Fig. 43 shows a step mechanism of a device according to the invention in a further embodiment in a cross section.

[0072] Identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the different versions.

[0073] Fig. 1 shows a clock-like device 10 according to the invention for displaying numbers in a first embodiment variant with a dial 11 with digits arranged one after the other along a curve, for example, along a circle or a circular arc, beginning with the initial digit "0" and ending with the final digit "9," and two pointing elements 21, 22, formed in this case by hands, which are arranged so as to be essentially independently rotatable about a rotational axis 21a. The digits "0" to "9" are arranged here along a circular line coaxially around the rotational axis 21a.

[0074] A first pointing element 21 of the two pointing elements 21, 22 is a driving pointing element, and a second pointing element 22 of the two pointing elements 21, 22 is a driven pointing element. There may be variants in which the first pointing element 21 is positioned below the second pointing element 22 (as in the variants described here) and analogous variants in which the first pointing element 21 is positioned above the second pointing element 22. By means of a driver mechanism 50, described in more detail below, the driven second pointing element 22 can be advanced by one step by the driving first pointing element 21 upon a triggering event. The trigger event is defined by passing the final digit "9" - when turning clockwise or in the direction of the ascending digits - or by passing the first pointing element 21 at the initial digit "0" - when turning counterclockwise or in the direction of the descending digits.Thus, if the first pointing element 21 is moved clockwise in the direction of the ascending digits, the second pointing element 22 is moved one step clockwise—for example, from "0" to "1"—when the first pointing element jumps from "9" to "0." Thus, if the first pointing element 21 is moved counterclockwise in the direction of the descending digits, the second pointing element 22 is moved one step counterclockwise—for example, from "1" to "0"—when the first pointing element jumps from "0" to "9."

[0075] In the basic version shown in Fig. 1, the device 10 consists of a dial 11 on which the numbers from "0" to "9" are arranged in a circle or spiral.

[0076] REPLACEMENT BLADE (RULE 26) are arranged, as well as pointing elements 21, 22 formed by two easily distinguishable hands, namely a ler pointing element - the first pointing element 21 - and the 10-minute hand - the second pointing element 22 -, which are mounted in the middle of the dial 11 similar to a clock and are rotatably mounted.

[0077] The ler pointer (first pointing element 21) can be moved by external influence (e.g., manually) in both directions independently of the 10 pointer (second pointing element 22). It always jumps from one of the digits it points to to the next or previous one. It does not move continuously, but in steps corresponding to the arrangement of the digits on the dial 11. When the ler pointer (first pointing element 21) is moved from "9" to "0," the 10 pointer (second pointing element 22) jumps one step forward, for example, from six to seven. When the ler pointer is moved from "0" to "9," the 10 pointer (second pointing element 22) jumps one step back, for example, from "6" to "5" or from "0" to "9." In addition, the 10-minute hand (second pointing element 22) can also be moved independently to display a desired digit.For example, if the 10s hand (second pointing element 22) indicates the number "3" and the 10s hand indicates the number "7," this can be interpreted (or read) as the number "37." Thus, the device 10 functions as a counter, displaying numbers in the range between "0" (both hands pointing to "0") and "99" (both hands pointing to "9"). The steps of the 10s hand (first pointing element 21) are counted, and the number of these steps is indicated by the position of the two hands (pointing elements 21, 22). The device 10 allows both forward and backward counting in the range from "0" to "99", although "errors" occur at the edge of this range: For example, if the device 10 is set to "99" and the ler pointer (first pointing element 21) is moved forward one step, the device 10 will point to "0", which is mathematically incorrect (it should be "100", but this display does not exist with two pointing elements 21, 22).This problem is familiar from odometers in cars, for example. Device 10 differs from such conventional counters in that, on the one hand, it counts in steps, with intermediate positions within a step not being displayed, and, on the other hand, it can also count backward. An analog "error" occurs when counting backwards, when the 10s pointer (second pointer element 22) of device 10 jumps from "0" to "99" when the 10s pointer (first pointer element 21) is moved back one step. These errors can be avoided by adding additional pointers—i.e., 100s pointers, 1000s pointsers, etc.—and / or by displaying negative numbers on the dial 11. Thus, instead of the number "9," there would be "-1," instead of "8," the number "-2," ... and instead of "1," the number "-9." These negative numbers can also be represented by a different symbol instead of a minus sign.

[0078] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) Color: positive numbers can be shown in black, negative numbers in red, for example.

[0079] Fig. 2 shows a device 10 according to the invention in a second embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the pointing elements 21, 22 formed by pointers are covered by a cover plate 13 rotatable about the rotation axis 21a. Grip openings 23, 24 are provided in the transparent protective plate 13 for actuating the pointing elements 21, 22 with fingers.

[0080] Fig. 3 shows a device 10 according to the invention in a third embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment in that the pointing elements 21, 22 are formed by pointer discs. The pointer discs are formed, for example, by circular discs and have painted, printed, or embossed pointers. The pointers can also extend beyond the circumference of the circular disc, as can be seen in Fig. 20. Grip openings 23, 24 or indentations are incorporated into the circular discs to facilitate the manual rotation of the pointing elements 21, 22.

[0081] Fig. 20 shows the device from Fig. 3 in a front view. Fig. 21 shows the driver mechanism 50 of the actuating mechanism 30 with a first wheel 51, a second wheel 52 (hidden by the first wheel 51 in Fig. 21), and a driver wheel 53, which are designed as gears. The driver wheel 53 meshes with the first wheel 51 and has a driver 530 not visible in Fig. 21 and Fig. 22. As can be seen in the plan view of the device 10 shown in Fig. 22, the wheel plane 52e of the second wheel 52 is offset from the wheel plane 51e of the first wheel 51 and the driver wheel 53. The second wheel 52 can thus be moved by one step at a time by the driver 530 in the manner described upon a triggering event.

[0082] Figs. 4 and 5 each show a device 10 according to the invention in a fourth and fifth embodiment, which differ from the embodiments in Figs. 1 to 3 in that two dials 11, 12 are provided in each case, and that a first pointing element 21 is rotatably arranged on the first dial 11 and a second pointing element 22 is rotatably arranged on the second dial 12. On each of the two dials 11, 12, digits are arranged one after the other along a curve, beginning with the initial digit "0" and ending with the final digit "9." The digits "0" to "9" are each arranged along a circular line coaxially around the rotational axis 21a and 22a, respectively.

[0083] REPLACEMENT BLADE (RULE 26) In the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the pointing elements 21, 22 are formed by pointers, and in the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 5, they are formed by pointer discs with painted, printed, or embossed pointers. In Fig. 4, the pointing elements 21, 22 are each covered by a cover disc 13, 14 rotatable about the rotation axis 21a. Grip openings 23, 24 are provided in each transparent protective disc 13, 14 for actuating the pointing elements 21, 22.

[0084] Fig. 17 shows the device from Fig. 4 in a front view without protective screens 13, 14. Fig. 18 shows the driver mechanism 50 of the actuating mechanism 30 with a first wheel 51, a second wheel 52 and a driver wheel 53, which are designed as gears. The driver wheel 53 meshes with the first wheel 51 and has a driver 530 (not visible). The wheel plane 52e of the second wheel 52 is offset from the wheel plane 51e of the first wheel 51 and the driver wheel 53, and thus the second wheel 52 can be moved by one step at a time by the driver 530 in the manner described when a trigger event occurs. Fig. 19 shows a section through the device 10. The rotatable, transparent protective screen 13 with the handle openings 23 can be clearly seen. The dial 11 is formed by a ring that can be attached to the first housing part 15.

[0085] 6 to 8 show an actuating mechanism 30 of the device 10 for the embodiments one to three shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The device 10 has a first housing part 15 shown in FIG. 15 and a second housing part 16 shown in FIG. 16. The first housing part 15 forms the front with the dial 11 and the second housing part 16 forms the rear wall. The first housing part 13 and the second housing part 16 can be firmly connected to one another via a snap-in connection 17. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the first housing part 15 has an indentation 150 for receiving the pointing elements 21, 22. The indentation 150 is covered at the front by a cover plate 13. The handle openings 23 can be seen in the cover plate 13.

[0086] The actuating mechanism 30 has a stepping mechanism 40 and a driver mechanism 50.

[0087] The step mechanism 40 is designed to adjust at least one pointing element 21, 22 step by step, each step being assigned to exactly one digit.

[0088] The step mechanism 40 has at least one locking element 41, which engages in a step associated with a respective number in a step element 42 of a wheel 51, 52 connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pointing element 21, 22.

[0089] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) In a decimal system, ten, in an octal system eight, in a hexadecimal system sixteen step elements 42 are provided, which are arranged distributed - in particular evenly - along the circumference or a lateral surface (Fig. 6, Fig. 7; Fig. 42) or on an end face (Fig. 36, Fig. 37; Fig. 40, Fig. 41) of the first wheel 51 and / or second wheel 52 or a hub part 54 (Fig. 43).

[0090] The step element 42 can, for example, be a tooth gap between two adjacent teeth of at least one wheel 51, 52 designed as a gear. As can be seen in Fig. 6, two locking elements 41 can be provided per wheel 51, 52, located diametrically opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotation 21a, 22a. In Fig. 6, one locking element 41 of the wheel 51 and one of the wheel 52 are arranged on each side. Thus, a total of four locking elements 41 are provided here. The locking elements 41 are pressed against the step elements 42 by the spring force of a spring element 43. In the embodiments shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 8, the locking elements 41 are each formed by a curved leaf spring - locking element 41 and spring element 43 are thus formed by the same part here.

[0091] The driver mechanism 50 is designed to move the driven pointing element - for example the second pointing element 22 - by one step by the driving pointing element - for example the first pointing element 21 - upon a trigger event, wherein the trigger event is defined by the passing of the driving first pointing element 21 at the starting digit or the ending digit.

[0092] The driver mechanism 50 has a driving first wheel 51 that is connected to the driving pointing element—for example, the first pointing element 21—in a rotationally fixed manner via a first positive-locking part 510, a driven second wheel 52 that is connected to the driven pointing element—for example, the second pointing element 22—in a rotationally fixed manner via a second positive-locking part 520, and a driving wheel 53 that meshes with the driving first wheel 51. A driver 530, formed, for example, by an axial pin or a tooth thickening, is arranged on the driving wheel 53, the rotational angular position of which on the driving wheel 53 correlates with the triggering event.The driver 53 is spaced from the rotational axis 53a of the driving wheel 53, wherein the distance between the driver 530 and the rotational axis 53a is selected such that, upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the driver 530 can engage with a positive-locking element formed by a tooth gap between two adjacent teeth of the driven second wheel 52. The driving first wheel 51 and the driven second wheel 52 are arranged in different wheel planes 51e, 52e.

[0093] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) The driver mechanism 50 has a signal generator 59 which is designed to emit an acoustic signal, for example, in the event of at least one triggering event.

[0094] As can be seen from Fig. 10, the second form-fitting part 520 can have the shape of a square and be formed, for example, by a hub part 54. The first wheel 51 is rotatably mounted on the hub part 54 via the cylindrical bearing surface 542. The hub part 54 is further connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second wheel 52 via a rotary connection 540. The rotary connection 540 has, for example, a web 541 that engages in a form-fitting manner in front-end recesses 521 of the second wheel 52 (shown in Fig. 9). The web 541 can be rounded on the side facing the second wheel 52 and thus function as a slip clutch in the event of an overload in order to prevent damage to the driver mechanism 50. The rotary joint can also simultaneously form the stepping mechanism 40, with the web 541 forming the locking element 41 and the front-side recesses 521 forming the stepping elements 42. The hub part 54 of Fig. 10 is shown on a significantly larger scale than that shown in Fig.9 and 12 and the intermediate gear 53 in Fig. 11.

[0095] The first form-fitting part 510, which is shaped, for example, as a square, can be formed integrally with the first wheel 51, as can be seen from Fig. 12.

[0096] Fig. 11 shows a driving wheel 53 formed by a gear wheel with a driver 530, which is formed by a tooth thickening of a tooth of the driving wheel 53.

[0097] Fig. 13 shows a first pointing element 21 designed as a pointer. The rotary connection with the first form-fitting part 510 is made via a first profile opening 210 shaped according to the shape of the form-fitting part 510 - here square.

[0098] Fig. 14 shows a second pointing element 22 designed as a pointer, which in the illustrated embodiment has a smaller radial extent than the first pointing element 21. This enables manual rotation of the first pointing element 21 without hindrance from the second pointing element 22. This prevents accidental adjustment of the second pointing element 22 when rotating the first pointing element 21. The rotary connection to the second form-fitting part 520 is established via a second profile opening 220—here square—shaped to match the shape of the second form-fitting part 520. The cross-section of the second profile opening 220—and thus of the second form-fitting part 520—is significantly smaller than the cross-section of the first profile opening 210 or the first form-fitting part 510.

[0099] REPLACEMENT BLADE (RULE 26) Fig. 15 shows the inside of the first housing part 15 of the device 10, and Fig. 16 shows the inside of the second housing part 16 of the device 10. It can be clearly seen that two locking elements 41 are fastened in the first housing part 15 and two locking elements 41 in the second housing part 16. The signal generator 59 is fixed in the second housing part 16.

[0100] Fig. 23 to Fig. 25 show a device 10 in a sixth embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that large setting wheels 211, 221 are provided for actuating the pointing elements 21, 22, which are connected to them in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the setting wheels 211, 221 each have a diameter D which is equal to or greater than the diameter of the dial 11. Each setting wheel 211, 221 is between two walls 151, 152; 161, 162 of the first housing part 15 or second housing part 16, wherein a first wall 151, 161 of each housing part 15, 16 is recessed on one side in each case, i.e. has a smaller distance e from a center plane s containing the axis of rotation 21a, than the respective second wall 151, 162 and the respective adjusting wheel 211, 221, in order to enable simple actuation.

[0101] Fig. 26 to Fig. 28 show a device 10 in a seventh embodiment, which differs from the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 23 to Fig. 25 in that, instead of large adjustment wheels, smaller adjustment wheels 211, 221 are provided for adjusting the pointing elements 21, 22, the diameter D of which is smaller than the diameter of the dial 11. The driver mechanism 50 is designed somewhat differently than in the previously described embodiments. The driver mechanism 50 here has a first wheel 51 that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first pointing element 21 and has a single tooth that forms the driver 530. The driver 530 engages in the toothing of an intermediate gear 55 that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second adjustment wheel 221. The second setting wheel 221, designed as a gear, is in meshing engagement with the second wheel 52, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second pointing element 22.The first adjustment wheel 211 is drive-connected to the first wheel 51 via a traction mechanism 56, for example, a toothed belt. The traction mechanism 56 ensures that the first adjustment wheel 211 and the first wheel 51 have the same direction of rotation. In contrast, the second adjustment wheel 221 and the second wheel 52 have different (opposite) directions of rotation relative to the first wheel 51. The diameters D of the adjustment wheels 211, 221, which are designed as gears, are selected such that the teeth of the gears slightly protrude laterally beyond the housing parts 15, 16, thus enabling easy operation (see Fig. 27).

[0102] REPLACEMENT BLADE (RULE 26) Fig. 29 to Fig. 31 show a device 10 in an eighth embodiment, which differs from the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 23 to Fig. 25 in that the pointing element 22 is not formed by a pointer, but by a dial with digits visible in a viewing window 25, which simultaneously forms the second setting wheel 221 for the tens digit. For actuating the first pointing element 21, a large first setting wheel 211 is provided, the diameter D of which corresponds at least to the diameter of the dial 11.The first adjustment wheel 211 is arranged between two walls 161, 162 of the second housing part 16, wherein a first wall 161 of the second housing part 16 is recessed on one side, i.e. has a smaller distance e from a center plane s containing the rotation axis 21a than the second wall 162 and the second adjustment wheel 221, in order to enable easy actuation.

[0103] 32 to 34 show a device 10 in a ninth embodiment, which differs from the eighth embodiment shown in Figs. 29 to 31 in that instead of a large first setting wheel, a small first setting wheel 211 is provided for setting the first pointing element 21, the diameter D of which is smaller than the diameter of the dial 11. The driver mechanism 50 here has - similar to the eighth embodiment shown in Figs. 29 to 31 - a first wheel 51 which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first pointing element 21 and has a single tooth which forms the driver 530. The driver 530 engages in the toothing of the second wheel 52 which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second setting wheel 221 or the second pointing element 22. Similar to the device shown in Figs. 26 to 31In the seventh embodiment shown in Fig. 28, the first adjusting wheel 211 is drive-connected to the first wheel 51 via a traction means 56, for example, a toothed belt. The traction means 56 ensures that the first adjusting wheel 211 and the first wheel 51 have the same direction of rotation. The diameters D of the adjusting wheels 211, 221 are selected such that the adjusting wheels 211, 221 slightly project laterally beyond the housing parts 15, 16, thus enabling easy operation (see Fig. 34).

[0104] Fig. 35 to Fig. 37 show a tenth embodiment of the device 10, wherein the digits of the ones place are arranged along a circular arc. The first pointing element 21 is formed by a pointer. The digits of the tens place are displayed in a viewing window 25, as in the embodiments shown in Fig. 29 to Fig. 34. The second pointing element 22 is therefore not formed by a pointer, but by a dial with digits movable into the viewing window 25, which simultaneously forms the second setting wheel 221 for the tens place. The driver mechanism 50 is different from the previous

[0105] REPLACEMENT LEAF (RULE 26) and has a Geneva gear mechanism. A Geneva gear mechanism is a known indexing mechanism comprising a multi-beam star wheel and a crank wheel, the crank of which engages radial slots in the star wheel, whereby the star wheel is rotated a defined step further per revolution of the crank wheel. The first wheel 51, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first pointing element 21, forms the crank wheel, with the crank of the crank wheel forming the driver 530. The second wheel 52, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the second pointing element 22 or the second setting wheel 221, forms - in a decimal system - a ten-beam star wheel of the Geneva gear mechanism. As can be seen from Fig. 36 and Fig. 37, the indexing mechanism 40 further comprises a locking element 41 formed by a transverse pin, which locks into one of several stepping elements 42.The step elements 42 are formed here by radial notches formed in a star shape near the rotational axis 22a of the second wheel 52. The locking element 41 is pressed into the step element 42 by at least one spring element 43, for example, a spring washer supported against the first housing part 15.

[0106] Fig. 38 shows in detail the second wheel 52, designed as a ten-pointed star wheel, and the stepping mechanism 40. As can be seen particularly from Fig. 39, the locking element 41 formed by the transverse pin is connected to an axially displaceable hub part 54 and is pressed axially against the second wheel 52 by a spring element 43 (not visible in Fig. 39).

[0107] Figs. 40 and 41 show an alternative embodiment of a stepping mechanism 40, wherein the locking element 41 is formed by a ball, which is pressed by the spring element 43 into a stepping element 42 formed by a recess in an end face of, for example, the second wheel 52. Reference numeral 44 denotes an axial blind bore in which the spring element 43 and the locking element 41 are arranged.

[0108] Fig. 42 shows a further embodiment of a stepping mechanism 40, wherein the locking element 41 is arranged in a radial blind bore 44 of the hub part 54 and the stepping elements 42 formed by recesses are arranged on the inner surface of, for example, a second wheel 52. Fig. 43 shows a reciprocal embodiment, in which the stepping elements 42 formed by notches are arranged on the outer surface of the hub part and the locking element 41 together with the spring element 43 are arranged in a radial blind bore 44 of the second wheel 52.

[0109] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS Device (10) for counting and calculating, in particular with decimal numbers, with at least one dial (11, 12) with digits arranged one after the other along a curve, beginning with an initial digit and ending with a final digit, and at least two rotatably mounted pointing elements (21, 22) which are adjustable clockwise or counterclockwise substantially independently of one another, wherein at least two pointing elements (21, 22) are rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation (21a) and belong to a common dial (11), characterized in that the device (10) has a stepping mechanism (40) which is designed to adjust at least one pointing element (21, 22) stepwise, wherein each step is assigned to a digit, and that one pointing element of the at least two pointing elements (21, 22) is a driving pointing element and a further pointing element of the at least two pointing elements (21, 22) is a driven pointing element is,and that the device (10) has a driver mechanism (50) which is designed to advance the driven pointing element by one step upon a triggering event by the driving pointing element, wherein the triggering event is defined by the driving pointing element passing the initial digit or the final digit. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving pointing element is formed by a first pointing element (21) and the driven pointing element is formed by a second pointing element (22), wherein at least one triggering event is defined by the first pointing element (21) passing the initial digit or the final digit, and wherein preferably the first pointing element (21) is assigned a ones digit and the second pointing element (22) is assigned a tens digit. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (10) has a rotatably mounted third pointing element,The mechanism is configured to advance the third pointing element by one step upon a second trigger event, wherein at least one trigger event is defined by the second pointing element (22) passing the initial digit or the final digit, wherein a hundredths digit is preferably assigned to the third pointing element. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that all pointing elements (21, 22) are rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation (21a) and belong to a common dial (11). Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two pointing elements (21, 22) are rotatably mounted about different axes of rotation (21a, 22a) and belong to different dials (11, 12). Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the initial digit is zero. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the digits belong to the decimal system and that the final digit is nine. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the digits belong to the octal system and that the final digit is 7. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the digits belong to the hexadecimal system and that the final digit is F. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the digits are arranged in ascending clockwise order.Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the numbers are arranged in an ascending counterclockwise sequence. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the step mechanism (40) has at least one locking element (41) which, in a step associated with a respective number, engages with a step element (42) of a wheel (51, 52), preferably a gear, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a pointing element (21, 22).Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the driver mechanism (50) has a driver (530) which is arranged on a driving wheel (51) of a driving pointing element, wherein the driver (530) engages with a positive-locking element of a driven wheel of the driven pointing element upon the occurrence of the triggering event, wherein the driving wheel and the driven wheel are preferably arranged in different wheel planes (51e, 52e). Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the driver mechanism (50) has a signal transmitter (59). which is designed to emit a preferably acoustic signal upon at least one triggering event. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the digits are arranged in a circular, spiral, or helical configuration. Device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least one pointing element (21, 22) is formed by a pointer, a pointer disc, or a digit disc.

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