Device for ritual use

Abstract

A device (1) for ritual use, particularly for the recital of the rosary, including a card (2) and a disc (7) rotationally mounted on the card (2), the disc or card having distinguishing signs, so that rotation of the disc indicates a particular distinguishing sign.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a device for ritual use, particularly a device to assist in the recital of the rosary.

[0002] As is known the rosary is a prayer in honour of the Virgin Mary which consists in the recital of fifteen decades of “Hail Marys” with the interpolation of the recital of an “Our Father”, i.e. it is necessary to say one “Our Father” (“Pater Noster”) for each ten “Hail Marys”.

[0003] Various instruments are currently known which are able to assist the devotee in the recital of the rosary.

[0004] Rosary chains are known which have many interlinked beads or balls to keep count of the prayers said.

[0005] Rosary rings are also known which have a number of parts projecting from the ring to count the prayers that are being said.

[0006] Cards are also known which have raised parts arranged in sequence to form a closed chain, in which each raised part is used to keep count of the prayers that are being said.

[0007] Such known instruments for the recital of the rosary have certain drawbacks.

[0008] In any case the devotee must keep a finger on the part of the rosary recital instrument identifying the prayer being recited so as to not lose count of the prayers said. In fact if the user, during rosary recital, removes his/her finger from the instrument, and is distracted, it then proves difficult to locate the point of the instrument where the finger was originally placed.

[0009] The aim of the invention is to provide a device for ritual use that is aesthetically pleasing, compact, cheap and easy to produce.

[0010] Another aim of the present invention is to provide a device for ritual use which is able to help the devotee in the recital of the rosary.

[0011] These aims are reached in accordance with the invention with the characteristics listed in the enclosed independent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.

[0013] The device for ritual use has a card, with a rotationally mounted disc. The circumferential edge of the disc has projecting parts or tabs that come out expressly from at least one edge of the card.

[0014] The user can rotate the disc by manually pushing such tabs.

[0015] Preferably the tabs projecting from the disc protrude only from the upper edge of the card.

[0016] Preferably the disc has ten identical projections that represent the recital of the “Hail Marys” and a projection, different from the others, which represents the recital of the “Our Father”.

[0017] A system is possible which snap advances the projections so that each projection can be placed perfectly flush with the upper edge of the card.

[0018] The front side of the card can depict an image, namely a sacred image, with the back of the card bearing words.

[0019] The advantages of the device, according to the invention, appear evident.

[0020] In fact, such a device allows the user, during rosary recital, to take his/her finger off the relative projecting part of the disc, without the risk of losing count of the prayers said and not being able to find the original finger position on the projecting part of the disc.

[0021] As well as being practical, such a device according to the invention, proves compact and easy to produce.

[0022] Further characteristics of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description that follows referring to a purely exemplary and therefore non-limiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing the front of the device for ritual use according to the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a top plan view, showing the device of FIG. 1, in which the sheet illustrating the sacred image has been removed;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view along the III-III section line of FIG. 2;

[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device for ritual use according to the invention.

[0027] The device for ritual use is described with the aid of the figures which, as a whole, is denoted by reference number 1. The device 1 includes a card 2, preferably made of plastic or plastic-coated cardboard. However, the card 2 can also be made of a metallic material through a punching or die-casting process.

[0028] The card 2 is basically rectangular shaped with an outer frame 3 which is interrupted in the middle of the upper edge 5 of card 2.

[0029] The upper frontal part of card 2 has a circular housing 4, of slightly less diameter than the width of card 2. An upper part of the housing 4 is cut from the upper edge 5 of card 2.

[0030] At the centre of housing 4, on card 2 is a circular plate 6 of less diameter than that of housing 4, so as to define a basically ring shaped seat on housing 4.

[0031] A disc 7, has an external diameter which is equal to or slightly less than the diameter of housing 4. The disc 7 has a central hole 8 of basically equal diameter to that of the circular plate 6.

[0032] The thickness of disc 7 is equal to or slightly less than the depth of housing 4. In this way, the disc 7 can be housed in housing 4 and the plate 6 is engaged in the hole 8, allowing the disc 7 to rotate freely within housing 4.

[0033] The circumferential edge of disc 7 has projecting tabs 9 radially protruding out from disc 7. Such projecting tabs 9 can be basically semicircular shaped. There are preferably ten projecting tabs 9 which are arranged at a similar angular distance from each other. Words such as “Hail Mary” can be present on the front surface of tabs 9, for instance, if the device 1 is intended for the recital of the rosary.

[0034] There is a basically cusp shaped space 12 between one tab 9 and the next. In addition, a basically concave space 10 is left on the circumferential edge of disc 7, to house a projecting tab 11 which differs from the projecting tabs 9. The projecting tab 11 can preferably be a cross.

[0035] In this way, when the disc 7 is mounted in housing 4, at least one tab 9 or 11 protrudes externally from the upper edge 5 of the card 2.

[0036] There is a pin 13 that protrudes at a right angle from the surface of housing 4 in an eccentric part of it, near its peripheral part. In this way, when the disc 7 is assembled in housing 4, the pin 13 fits within a cusp 12 that spaces apart two consecutive tabs. In this arrangement, a tab 9 or 11 protrudes at a right angle from the upper edge 5 of the card 2. In this case the user will be able to unequivocally locate which tab sticks out from the upper edge 5 of the card 2.

[0037] To rotate disc 7, the user simply pushes the tab protruding from the upper edge 5 of card 2 using a finger and therefore the pin 13 will engage in the following cusp 12 and another tab will protrude from the upper edge 5.

[0038] To complete the device 1 a rectangular sheet 15, of basically similar size to that of card 2, is applied to the front of card 2 after assembly of disc 7. In this manner, the sheet 15 covers disc 7. A semicircular notch 17 is made on the upper edge 16 of sheet 15, in a central position. In this way the tab 9 or 11 that protrudes from the upper edge 5 of card 2 is revealed all the more and is therefore more visible.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet 15 can carry an image 18, for instance, a sacred image, namely a Madonna.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, a sheet 19 can also be applied to the back of card 2. Preferably sheet 19 can carry words, such as for example information or prayers.

[0041] Use of the device, according to the invention, is not limited to the recital of the rosary. In fact, disc 7 can have a different number of projecting tabs 9 and 11, and can carry other representations, such as names or images of saints or other prayers.

[0042] Numerous changes and variations of detail may be made to the present embodiment of the innovation, within the reach of a person skilled in the art, in any event, without departing from the scope of the invention, expressed by the appended claims.

[0043] For instance, the front surface of disc 7 can have distinguishing signs and sheet 15 can have an opening in a different position from opening 17, which brings a distinguishing sign of disc 7 into view.

[0044] Alternatively, disc 7 may not be covered by the sheet 15 and there can be distinguishing signs around disc 7 on card 2. In this case, the disc 7 can have a pointer to indicate a distinguishing sign.

Claims

1. A device (1) for ritual use, particularly for the recital of the rosary, including a card (2) and a disc (7) rotationally mounted on said card (2), said disc or said card having distinguishing signs, so that rotation of the disc indicates a particular distinguishing sign.

2. A device as in claim 1, characterised in that said card (2) has an essentially circular housing (4) and a disc-shaped plate (6) projecting from the centre of said housing (4) and said disc (7) has a central hole (8) so that the disc (7) is housed in said housing (4) and the plate (6) engages in said hole (8) of disc (7).

3. A device as in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said distinguishing signs of disc (7) are tabs (9, 11) that protrude radially from the disc (7).

4. A device as in claim 3, characterised in that at least one of said tabs (9, 11) protrudes externally from at least one edge (5) of the card (2).

5. A device as in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that at least some of said tabs (9) are of semicircular shape forming a cusp (12) between one tab and the next.

6. A device as in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that ten of said tabs (9) are of semicircular shape and one of said tabs (11) is cross-shaped.

7. A device as in any one of the claims from 3 to 5, characterised in that there are words or distinguishing signs on at least some of said tabs.

8. A device as in any one of the previous claims, characterised in that indexation means (13) are envisaged to allow the snap rotation of said disc (7).

9. A device as in claim 8, characterised in that said indexation means (13) are a pin (13) assembled in an eccentric and peripheral position in said housing (4), said pin (13) being able to engage in one of said cusps (12) set between one tab (9) and the next.

10. A device as in any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it includes an initial sheet (15) to cover said disc (7) at least partly.

11. A device as in claim 10, characterised in that said initial sheet (15) has an opening (17) in a central position of its upper edge (16).

12. A device as in claim 10 or 11, characterised in that there is a sacred image (18) on said initial sheet (15).

13. A device as in any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it also includes a second sheet (19) situated on the side of card (2) opposite to that holding the initial sheet (15).

14. A device as in claim 13, characterised in that said second sheet (19) contains some words.