Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887
I, WILLIAM SUMNER REED, of 15 Pearl Street, Leominster, in the County of
Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Figure 1 is a Plan of a card or tablet having thereon a series of Questions and
Answers with their respective exponental characters, arranged in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 is a Perspective view (on a reduced scale) of a receptacle for containing
a series of such cards, and with a pair of rotating dial rolls, having all the exponental
characters of the Questions and Answers thereon.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the center of the rotating
dial rolls.
Figure 4 represents the cover of the card receptacle with a different form of dial
applied thereto.
My present invention consists in one or more tablets each provided with questions
and answers thereto and exponents for both the questions and answers ;-or one card
or tablet for questions and their exponents and another card or tablet for the answers
and their exponents, in combination with a dial formed of portions bearing the
exponents of both the Questions and Answers--one or more portions of the dial being
adapted to be moved by the player so that when the exponent of a Question (located
on the surfaces of the portions of the dial) are brought into line, the exponent of its
answer will simultaneously appear to view in the same line as the exponent of the
Question; and having thus found the exponent of the answer on the Dial-the
corresponding exponent will be found in the space allotted for the answer on the table
of answers the foregoing exercise affording a pleasant occupation for the mind--and
an interesting channel for imparting information.

page_text: In the said drawings A represents a rectangular box or receptacle provided with a
cover a and containing a series of cards or tablets B and a pair of rolls CD
(constituting a dial) pivoted to a common axis b having its bearings in blocks E E
at one end of the inside of the receptacle. Each card is divided into two equal
portions, and each portion into a series of rectangular spaces. In each of the
Question spaces, is written, printed, engraved or otherwise delineated a Question, for
instance "How can a man make his coat last"-and a couple of letters (capitals
preferred) such as XY, which form the exponent or representative of said Question.
In each space assigned for Answers is also printed, written. engraved or otherwise
delineated an Answer-the space containing each Answer also containing Figures-
for instance 23-which constitutes the exponent for the Answer to the foregoing
Question said Answer being "by making his vest and pants first." This Answer is
found in the following manner. Near one end (the outer end for instance) of each
.roll CD, its peripheral surface is divided into spaces-in each of which is found one
of the letters corresponding to one of the capital letters XY which constitute the
exponent of the said Question, and near each inner end of these rolls CD its
peripheral surface is also divided into spaces; each space containing a number
consisting of a couple of figures. By rotating the rolls CD the letters X Y are
brought into line with each other-i.e. into a common vertical plane passing longi-
tudinally through the axis of the rolls-simultaneous with which the figures 23 are
also brought into the same line therewith and are exposed to view (see fig. 2.).
By looking for the number 23 on the portion of the card or tablet assigned for
the Answers a similar number (23) will be found in the space which contains the
right answer to the Question. It is evident that the characters representing the
exponents of either the Questions or Answers may be varied, and pictures of animals
or things substituted therefor it being only necessary that the characters repre-
senting the exponent of a Question be different from those representing the
exponent of its Answer. The rolls CD form a two part rotating dial on which are
found the keys to the answers. The dial may be formed of two flat circular portions
applied to the cover a, the inner portion being pivoted thereto and capable of being
rotated around its center and the outside portion being fixed to the cover-the two
characters constituting the exponent of a Question, being in a line running radially to
the center of the dial, the other two characters representing the exponent of the
Answer being found between them on the same line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention'
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A card or tablet having thereon a series of Questions and their Answers provided
with exponents; each formed of two or more characters;-the characters repre-
senting the exponent of a Question being of different style or value from the characters
representing the exponent of its Answer ;-in combination with a Dial bearing the
characters forming the exponents of all the Questions and their Answers ;-the
operation of bringing into line the characters of the exponent of a Question, also
bringing simultaneously into the same line the characters forming the exponent of its
answer so that the latter may be identified in the space alloted to it on said card or
tablet, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. A card or tablet having thereon a series of Questions and their Answers provided
with exponents-each exponent formed of two or more characters ;-the characters
representing the exponent of a Question being of different style or value from the
characters representing the exponent of its Answer-in combination with a Dial
formed of two portions adapted to be rotated independently of each other on a common
axis; each portion of the Dial being sub-divided and bearing one of the characters
of the exponent of a Question, and also one of the characters of the exponent of its
Answer; the sum of the subdivisions on the Dial corresponding with the number of
the characters in the exponents;-the operation of bringing into line the characters
forming the exponent of a Question, by rotating the two portions of the Dial, also
bringing simultaneously into the same line, the characters forming the exponent of its

page_text: answer, so that the latter may be identified in the space alloted to it on said card or
tablet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A Dial formed of two rolls capable of being revolved independently-each roll
having delineated thereon a part of the exponent of a Question and also a part of the
exponent of its Answer-in combination with one or more tablets or cards having
represented thereon the Questions and Answers and their respective exponents
substantially as specified.
DL: m
A-11007