STOCK MARKET CHARTING APPARATUS

• US 3,731,387 A
• Filed: 09/09/1969
• Issued: 05/08/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John W. Slemmons
• Original Assignee: John W. Slemmons
• Inventors: Slemmons, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haroian, Harry N.
• Application Number:
  US04/856,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 33/75,76,80,103,95,1
• US Class Current: 33/430
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 13/00 Drawing instruments, or writing or drawing appliances or accessories not otherwise provided for stencils for surface decoration B44D

Abstract

Apparatus for plotting stock market data. Included is a rectangular rule having along the edges of a central rectangular opening a plurality of scales of different incremental spacing. A charting sheet is positioned with an edge against a chart guide and with a selected point on the abcissa aligned with an index mark on the chart guide. When the rule is placed against a rule guide, a scale edge of the rule is lined up with the selected point, thereby facilitating easy entry of prices, volume or other data. In one embodiment the chart and rule guides are mounted on a notebook cover; in another embodiment the guides are combined in a unitary member adapted to engage an edge of the charting sheet.

Claims

1. Apparatus for plotting data on a charting sheet, comprising:

a planar base, a substantially rectangular rule having a scale adjacent one elongate edge thereof, a substantially planar rule guide having a straight edge, said charting sheet being positionable beneath said rule guide, said rule guide comprising;

first spacer means, and a generally rectuangular planar member, one elongate edge of said planar member comprising said straight edge, one end of said planar member being fixedly attached to said base and separated therefrom by said first spacer means, chart guide means cooperating with said rule guide for retaining the abscissa of said charting sheet in perpendicular alignment with said rule guide straight edge, said chart guide means having an index mark spaced from said straight edge by a distance equal to the spacing between said one elongate edge and another elongate edge of said rule, whereby when said other elongate edge of said rule is placed against said straight edge, said one elongate edge is perpendicular to said abscissa and aligned with said index mark, and wherein said chart guide means comprises;

second spacer means, and a strip member including said index mark, said strip member being fixedly attached to said base and separated therefrom by said second spacer means whereby when an edge of said charting sheet is disposed beneath a portion of said strip member and against one of said spacer means, the abscissa of said charting sheet is aligned perpendicular to said straight edge.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rule includes a central rectangular opening, the elongate edges of said opening being parallel to and equally spaced from the respective exterior elongate edges of said rule, said rule further including a plurality of scales of different incremental spacing, said scales being adjacent the elongate edges of said opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said index mark is spaced from said straight edge by a distance equal to half the width of said rule plus half the width of said opening.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second spacer means has a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of said charting sheet, and wherein said strip member is attached substantially perpendicular to said straight edge and in alignment with said one end of said planar member, whereby when said charting sheet is disposed beneath said strip member and against said second spacer means, said data sheet may be moved freely parallel to the abcissa, a portion of the charting sheet being disposable beneath said planar member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said planar member and said strip member each comprise transparent plastic, and wherein said base comprises the cover of a notebook.

6. Apparatus for plotting stock market data on a chart having an abscissa scale and an arbitrary ordinate scale, said apparatus comprising:

a planar, substantially rectangular base, a rule guide attached to said base, chart guide means attached to sAid base for maintaining the abscissa of said chart perpendicular to a first edge of said rule guide, said chart being positionable parallel to said abscissa and beneath said rule guide, a rule having along one elongate edge at least one scale including major graduations identified by consecutive units digits and having a fiducial mark associated with a particular one of said graduations, said rule being positionable above said chart against said rule guide first edge with said one scale parallel to the chart ordinate and with said fiducial mark aligned with a point on said ordinate having the same units value as said particular one of said graduations, and wherein said chart guide means has an index mark spaced from said rule guide first edge by a distance equal to the spacing between said rule one edge and another elongate edge of said rule, whereby when said other elongate edge of said rule is placed against said rule guide first edge, said rule one edge is perpendicular to said abscissa and aligned with said index mark.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said rule includes a plurality of scales of different incremental spacing, each scale being adjacent a different elongate edge of said rule.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said rule includes a central rectangular opening, the elongate edges of said opening being parallel to the outer elongate edges of said rule, said scales being adjacent the elongate edges of said opening.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein scales are included on both front and rear surfaces of said rule.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said rule is flexible, said rule including one or more thin raised feet projecting from the surface thereof and adapted to rest on said charting sheet, whereby pressure applied to the upper surface of said rule will cause said rule to pivot about said feet so as to facilitate lifting of said rule from said charting sheet.

11. apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said one scale has approximately fifteen major graduations, said fiducial mark being associated with the central one of said major graduations.

12. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said fiducial mark is associated with the units digit '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'5'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' major graduation, and wherein each of said major graduations is divided into fractional graduations.

13. Apparatus for plotting stock market data on a chart having an abscissa scale and an arbitrary ordinate scale, said apparatus comprising:

a planar, substantially rectangular base, a rule guide attached to said base, chart guide means attached to said base for maintaining the abscissa of said chart perpendicular to a first edge of said rule guide, said chart being positionable parallel to said abscissa and beneath said rule guide, and a rule having along one edge at least one scale including major graduations identified by consecutive units digits and having a fiducial mark associated with a particular one of said graduations, said rule being positionable above said chart against said rule guide first edge with said one scale parallel to the chart ordinate and with said fiducial mark aligned with a point on said ordinate having the same units value as said particular one of said graduations.

14. Apparatus for plotting stock market data on a chart having abscissa and ordinate scales, said apparatus comprising:

a planar, substantially rectangular base, a rule guide attached to said base, a rule having first and second elongate edges, chart guide means attached to said base for maintaining the abscissa of said chart perpendicular to a first edge of said rule guide, said chart being positionable parallel to said abscissa and beneath said rule guide, said chart guide means having an index mark spaced from said rule guide first edge by a distance equal to the spacing between said first and second elongate edges of said rule, said rule having along said second elongate edge a scale including two sets of gRaduations extending in opposite directions from a central zero fiducial mark, whereby when said first elongate edge of said rule is placed against said rule guide first edge, said rule scale is perpendicular to said abscissa and aligned with said index mark, said rule being positionable parallel to said rule guide first edge to align said central zero fiducial mark with a previously plotted mark on said chart, said rule scale thereby facilitating entry on said chart of changes in the plotted parameter.

15. Apparatus for plotting stock market data on a chart having an abscissa scale and an ordinate volume scale extending upwardly from a zero point aligned with said abscissa scale, said apparatus comprising:

a planar, substantially rectangular base, a rule guide attached to said base, a rule having first and second elongate edges and a bottom edge perpendicular to said elongate edges, chart guide means attached to said base for maintaining the abscissa of said chart perpendicular to a first edge of said rule guide, said chart being positionable parallel to said abscissa and beneath said rule guide, said chart guide means having an index mark spaced from said rule guide first edge by a distance equal to the spacing between said first and second elongate edges of said rule, a rule having along said second elongate edge a volume scale corresponding to said ordinate volume scale and positioned so that when said rule bottom edge is placed in abutting relationship with said chart guide means, said rule volume scale will be in horizontal alignment with said chart ordinate volume scale, and when said first elongate edge of said rule is placed against said rule guide first edge, said rule second elongate edge will be parallel to said abscissa and aligned with said index mark.