Indicating Device in connection with Glass-doors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar.. 1900
COMILIEST FUIFICATION.
Indicating Device in connection with Glass-doors.
I, PAUL KARUTZ, of Blankenese, near Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany,
Chemist, 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:-
The present invention relates to an indicating device in connection with glass-
doors, such as shop-doors and the like, and which appears visible when for the
purpose of opening the door the door-handle or knob is actuated. The device
serves for indicating whether the inhabitant of the room, or shop or the like,
having a door fitted with the invention, is at home, and at what time callers will
receive admission. The device may further serve for advertising purposes. With
these ends in view the invention consists in the peculiar combination and in the
novel constructions, arrangement and adaption of parts, all as more fully herein-
after described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically
defined in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a glass-door fitted according to the present
invention, the door handle being depressed or actuated for opening the door.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation according to Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 shows, in rear elevation, a somewhat modified construction of the in-
vention.
In connection with the door-handle a a flag-like plate b is arranged, the staff c
of which is fitted at its extremity with a suitable clamping device d for securing
or clamping the plate b on the spindle of the door handle a at the inside of the
door. An arched guide e secured to the inside of the door serves for properly
guiding the plate b. The side of the plate b facing the door is provided with
inscriptions indicating at what time the inhabitant of the room is at home, or
indicating when the shop is open again. Advertisements may be provided in
combination with these indications, or the plate 6 may serve solely for advertise-
ment purposes. It is obvious that I do not limit myself to a special nature or kind
of inscriptions or kind of type or illustrations. If desired the side of the plate b
facing the room may likewise be provided with inscriptions, advertisements or
the like, and the shape of said plate 6 may be chosen to suit the requirements or
desire; it may advantageously be fan-shaped. If found desirous a sound pro-
ducing device or instrument, may easily be combined with my indicating device,
such as the well-known window tappers or the like.
My invention operates in the following manner:-When actuating the door
handle a from outside the door for the purpose of opening the latter, the spindle
of the door-handle, no matter whether same is in connection with a door handle
of the kind illustrated or in connection with the well-known knob-handles, will
be turned, thereby turning the staff c and with it the plate 6 in the guide d down-
wards, so that the plate 6 and the inscriptions or advertisements thereon appear
visible through the glass pane f of the door g.
The modification of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3 has for its purpose to
provide a substitute for the clamping device at the extremity of the staff c.

page_text: According to this modification a toothed segment h is rigidly secured to the
spindle of the door handle a. A toothed wheel i meshes with this segment h,
which toothed wheel is journaled above the door handle spindle. The extremity
of the staff c is fitted with a toothed segment & engaging the toothed wheel i, the
staff being suitably pivoted to the door above the door handle. On turning the
door handle a motion will be imparted to the sign-plate b through the inter-
mediary of the toothed wheel i to the required extent.
It may be found advantageous to leave a space on the sign-plate 6 for the
reception of hand-written notes. The sign or inscription plate 6 may be made
adjustable in any of the well known manners in regard to the staff c in order to
adjust the arc through which said plate b has to swing to appear visible through
the glass pane of the door.
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.) The combination, in an indicating device in connection with glass-doors,
of a swinging sign- or inscription plate, said plate swung by the agency of the
spindle of the door handle so as to appear visible through the glass pane when
the door handle is actuated for opening the door, substantially as described and
shown.
2.) In an indicating device in connection with glass-doors, the combination
with the door-handle spindle, of a sign or inscription plate, said plate fixed rigidly
to the spindle by a clamping device and adapted to be swung by the actuation of
the door handle, so as to appear visible through the glass pane, substantially
as described and shown.
3.) In an indicating device in connection with glass-doors, the combination with
the door-handle spindle, of a toothed segment rigidly secured thereto, a toothed
wheel journaled above the door handle adapted to mesh with the toothed segment
on said spindle, and a toothed segment journaled above the toothed wheel adapted
to mesh therewith, said toothed segment fitted to the extremity of the sign or
inscription plate and adapted to receive motion so as to swing the sign or inscrip-
tion plate to appear visible through the glass pane of the door, substantially as
described and shown.
4.) An indicating device in connection with glass doors, the whole constructed
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of T
1000
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office,
24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.