US3863365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Star finder
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-21
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1994-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A star finding device comprised of a rectangular base folded along a mid-point axis normal to its longitudinal axis such that two adjacent panels result, each having an outer side for a hemisphere. Printed on both opposite edges, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base is a scale of latitude. An horary dial representing the 24 hours of a day is centrally located on each of said panels having within said dial a space to receive a disk map of the constellations of the corresponding hemisphere. Each said disk pictorially represents the celestial bodies of a hemisphere and has along the circumferential edges thereof a scale representing the days of the year with a center pivot point corresponding to the pole of that hemisphere. A slidably mounted windowed strip mounted on each panel, whereby a pictorial representation of the celestial bodies is isolated within the windowed portion of the strip provided for each panel. After a disk pictorial representation of a hemisphere is placed on its corresponding panel, the time and date scales are adjusted such that the desired time and date of the observation are adjacent one another and the windowed strip is adjusted to the latitude from which the observation is to be made, a pictorial representation of the selected celestial vault will appear isolated within the windowed portion of the windowed strip. A numerical reference number is given to each constellation pictorially represented on a constellation map, whereby the name of a constellation may be obtained by consulting a list of constellations along with their numerical reference numbers printed on the back side of each panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry Moliard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:39
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B27/00; G09B27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
A device for quickly and easily pictorially representing stars as they would appear from earth at any selected latitude and at any selected time and date which comprises a flat base providing two panels, each panel having scales of latitude along the sides thereof and a central circular twenty-four hour scale, a circular disk for each panel surrounded by said circular scale and rotatable relative to said panel, each disk having circumferentially arranged indicia designating the months of the year and the days of each month arranged so that a selected date may be aligned with a selected hour on the surrounding hour scale, one disk having indicia surrounded by the circumferential indicia representing the principal star constellations of the Northern hemisphere, the other disk having indicia surrounded by the circumferential indicia representing principal star constellations of the Southern hemisphere, slides overlying the panels and their disks shiftable along the length of the longitudinal scale on the panel and having a window overlying and isolating a portion of the disk on the panel, and said scale of latitude, said scale of hours, said circumferential scale of dates and said constellation indicia being correlated so that alignment of the slide with a selected latitude on the scale of latitudes and rotation of the disk to align a selected date with a selected hour will expose in the window the principal star constellations that would appear to an observer at the selected latitude and at the selected date and time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
248 words
A device for quickly and easily pictorially representing stars as they would appear from earth at any selected latitude and at any selected time and date which comprises a flat base providing two panels, each panel having scales of latitude along the sides thereof and a central circular twenty-four hour scale, a circular disk for each panel surrounded by said circular scale and rotatable relative to said panel, each disk having circumferentially arranged indicia designating the months of the year and the days of each month arranged so that a selected date may be aligned with a selected hour on the surrounding hour scale, one disk having indicia surrounded by the circumferential indicia representing the principal star constellations of the Northern hemisphere, the other disk having indicia surrounded by the circumferential indicia representing principal star constellations of the Southern hemisphere, slides overlying the panels and their disks shiftable along the length of the longitudinal scale on the panel and having a window overlying and isolating a portion of the disk on the panel, and said scale of latitude, said scale of hours, said circumferential scale of dates and said constellation indicia being correlated so that alignment of the slide with a selected latitude on the scale of latitudes and rotation of the disk to align a selected date with a selected hour will expose in the window the principal star constellations that would appear to an observer at the selected latitude and at the selected date and time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the base is foldable to provide two overlying panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each panel has a circular aperture receiving the disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the disk for the Northern hemisphere has a center locating the North Pole and the disk for the Southern hemisphere has a center locating the South Pole of the earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each disk has circular indicia representing the equator and any star constellation exposed by the window beyond the equator is adapted to be properly oriented by aligning the slide overlying the disk for the other hemisphere at the same latitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the slide is transparent and indicia on the slide isolates the boundaries for the window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 2, wherein the slide for each panel has a flap underlying the panel to mount the slide on the panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2, wherein each slide is an envelope surrounding the panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the base is rectangular and the latitude scales are aligned along both side edges thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 9, wherein the rectangular base is foldable on a transverse center line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each circular 24 hour scale has indicia representing 12 P.M. located on the longitudinal axis of said flat base adjacent each other on either side of a midpoint axis of said flat base normal to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each slide when overlying a panel has indicia representing a central windowed portion bordEred by a width distance corresponding to 90* on said scales of latitude and by a length distance corresponding to 180* on said scales of latitude.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each said disk has indicia representing the contiguous principal constellations of the other hemisphere circumferentially arranged between said indicia designating the months of the year and the days of each month and said indicia designating the principal star constellations of the hemisphere of the disk.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said disks have numerical indicia referencing the names of the principal constellations to a printed legend of the principal constellations carried on the reverse side of the opposite panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1, wherein a transparent cover overlies said flat base and is attached thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said transparent cover has indicia representing two parallel lines running tangentially to said circular indicia representing the equator on each disk on either side thereof and indicia relating to the indicia of 90* latitude on said scales of latitude.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
142 words
A star finder device for the study of the skies from a selected latitude which comprises a flat base, four sets of scales denoting latitude arranged in quadrants on the base, a circumferentially arranged horary dial on the base in each quadrant between the scales of latitude for each quadrant, a disk rotatably mounted on the base in each quadrant surrounded by the horary dial in the quadrant, said latitude scales and disks being arranged in two superimposed pairs in side-by-side relation, a disk in each pair having indicia respectively showing star constellations for the Southern and Northern hemispheres in inverted relation to each other, and a transparent slide overlying the base and disks to be aligned with a selected latitude on said scales and having an isolated window for exposing the star constellations of the disks visible at the selected latitude.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
142 words
A star finder device for the study of the skies from a selected latitude which comprises a flat base, four sets of scales denoting latitude arranged in quadrants on the base, a circumferentially arranged horary dial on the base in each quadrant between the scales of latitude for each quadrant, a disk rotatably mounted on the base in each quadrant surrounded by the horary dial in the quadrant, said latitude scales and disks being arranged in two superimposed pairs in side-by-side relation, a disk in each pair having indicia respectively showing star constellations for the Southern and Northern hemispheres in inverted relation to each other, and a transparent slide overlying the base and disks to be aligned with a selected latitude on said scales and having an isolated window for exposing the star constellations of the disks visible at the selected latitude.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 17, wherein the base has hangers for mounting on a wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 17, wherein the base has grooves for mounting the slides and a retaining means operable to hold the slides in position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 17, wherein an opaque screen is attached to said flat base having four circular openings corresponding in size and location to the disks, each said opening having located circumferentially indicia designating the 24 hours of a day and indicia representing scales of latitude carrier vertically on said opaque screen on either side of each said opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 17, wherein an opaque slide overlying the base and disk is provided whereby a disk not presently consulted may be covered.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |