An Improved Curtain for Use in Advertising or Spectacular Devices.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Curtain for Use in Advertising or Spectacular
Devices.
I, FREDERICK PERCY Cox, 24 Fern Grove, Liverpool, Clerk, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a curtain or background formed by fixing side by side
or superposed on each other, rods, tubes or prisms, of glass or metal, or any
suitable material and then rotating or twisting the same rods, tubes or prisms ou
their axis. These rods, tubes or prisms may be opaque or transparent, and in the
case of tubes or rods, may be made with a twist to give them, when revolving,
a rising or falling effect. By means of this curtain I claim many new and beautiful
effects may be obtained, when employed for instance in conjunction with letters or
advertising signs, fountains, illuminated devices &c., and are applicable and
effectual either with reflected or transmitted light, which may be of any desired
colour, or a series of colours, changing at intervals.
Dated this 9th day of April 1896.
FREDERICK P. COX.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Curtain for Use in Advertising or Spectacular
Devices.
I, FREDERICK PERCY Cox, of 24, Fern Grove, Liverpool, Clerk, 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 :-
This invention relates to a curtain or background for employment in the
production of illuminated or spectacular devices and-in conjunction with letters,
signs, or devices-for the purpose of advertising.
According to this invention such a curtain or background is composed of rods,
tubes, or prisms of glass, burnished metal, or other suitable material, which are
arranged side by side or one over the other. Such rode, tubes, or prisms, are
caused to rotate on their respective axes by tooth, chain, cord, or friction wheel
gearing, driven by any suitable motor. In most cases such rods, tubes, or prisms,
will have imparted to them a spiral thread, twist, or design. By causing such
rods, tubes, or prisms, to rotate in reflected or transmitted light some remarkable
and beautiful optical effects and illusions are produced. Thus where the rods,
tubes or prisms possess a spiral formation and are rotated in one direction, they
give the spectator the impression of flowing water.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated the curtain or background
above described, and also shewn how it may be used in conjunction with letters and
similar devices to form an illuminated sign or advertisement.

page_text: Figure 1 illustrates a background according to this invention, consisting of
horizontal rods a of burnished metal, having a spiral groove a' formed in their
surface. The rods have trunnions b which are free to rotate in the plates c. One
trunnion of each rod carries a sprocket wheel d, the series of sprocket wheels
being rotated by an endless chain e, which may be driven by any suitable motor.
Figure 2 shews a vertical arrangement of the background.
The background shewn in Figures 1 and 2 may be used separately for a variety
of purposes, or, as hereunder described, for illuminated signs or advertisements.
Thus the background may be used for theatrical or spectacular purposes to
produce the effect of flowing water; and by arranging the rods a in series of short
lengths, each series being at an angle, and connecting the rods of each series by a
universal joint, a cascade effect is produced.
are
Figure 3 is a front view, and Figure 4 a section, shewing the background above
described employed in conjunction with letters, signs, or devices, to form an
illuminated business sign or advertisement. The rods a are mounted at the back
of a casing, having a glazed front g. In the upper portion of the casing
fixed a number of incandescent electric lamps h. The glazed front g is masked in
order that the letters, sign, or devices, may appear in clear glass. The light from
the lamps his thus reflected by the rotating rods a through the clear glass letters,
which consequently appear to be formed of flowing liquid fire.
Instead of burnished metallic rods being employed to form a background, I may
use glass tubes whose surface bears a spiral design, groove or twist; and in this
case I prefer to silver the interior surface of the tubes. Or I may use prisms of
glass, which separate the rays of light entering them and reflect the component
violet, indigo, blue, and other colours of the rainbow through the clear letters of
the glazed front g. When prismatic rods a are employed, I prefer to form them
as shewn in the two hexagonal examples illustrated in Figure 5, namely, by
cementing together two or more prisms i, k being the axle hole.
The surface of the rods, tubes, or prisms a may be cross-cut in order that light
falling upon them is reflected in scintillations.
In Figures 6 and 7, block letters are employed instead of a glazed and
masked front. The rotating rods a are mounted in a casing f, and the lamps /
are so disposed that their light falls upon the faces of the letters / in addition to the
background a.
In Figure 8 I interspace the rods a with strips m of silvered glass or other
reflecting material, disposed to form a trough for each rod a. Convex or concave
mirrors may be substituted for the flat strips m. In other cases I dispose electric
lamps behind the rotating rods, so that their image is reflected upon such
interspaced mirrors and the effect thereby multiplied.
Instead of adapting the rotating rods a to reflect light which is projected onto
them, I form the rods of clear glass and dispose the lamps or other illuminant
behind them, so that the light is transmitted through them. In this case, as
before, the rods a bear upon their surface a spiral device, groove, thread, or
twist.
The rods a may be rotated by clockwork, an electro-motor or other suitable
motive power, and instead of the chain and sprocket wheels above described being
used, the rods may be rotated by a cord disposed in grooved pulleys on the
trunnions of the rods, or where the rods are alternately provided with right and
left handed spiral devices they may be rotated by pinion wheels meshing with each
other, or by friction wheels in contact with one another.
By arranging the electric lamps which supply light to the above described
devices and background, in multiple circuits, different coloured lights may be
successively thrown upon such devices and background.
Although I have in the above description referred more particularly to
electricity as the illuminating medium, it must be understood that I may employ
gas, oil, or other illuminant.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. The employment as a curtain or background for advertising or spectacular
devices, of a series of rods, tubes, prisms, or their equivalent, provided with a
spiral device, groove, or twist, arranged side by side or one over the other and
adapted to be revolved on trunnions by chain gear, tooth wheels, or equivalent
gear, whereby when light is projected on or transmitted through such rotating
rods, tubes, or prisms, the effect produced on the spectator is that of flowing liquid
or fire, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
annexed drawing.
2. The combination with a curtain or background composed of a series of rods,
tubes, prisms or their equivalent, provided with a spiral device, groove or twist and
adapted to be rotated as herein described, with a casing having a glazed and
masked front and illuminated by electric lamps or other illuminant, whereby the
light from said illuminating medium is reflected by the rotating background
through the clear glass letters, signs or devices of the glazed front, so as to give
such letters, signs or devices the appearance of flowing liquid or fire, substantially
as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed drawing.
3. The combination with a curtain or background composed of a series of rods,
tubes, prisms or their equivalent, provided with a spiral device, groove, or twist,
and adapted to be rotated as herein described, with a casing which bears opaque
block letters, signs or devices and is illuminated by electric lamps or other
illuminant, whereby the light from said illuminating medium is projected onto said.
letters and background, so as to exhibit such letters depicted on a background
which has the appearance of flowing liquid or fire, substantially as herein described
with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the annexed drawing.
4. As a curtain or background for advertising or spectacular devices, the com-
bination of rods, tubes, prisms, or their equivalent, provided with a spiral device,
groove, or twist, and adapted to be rotated as herein described, with strips of
silvered glass, concave mirrors, convex mirrors, or their equivalent, interposed
between the rotating members of such background, whereby the effect produced
by such rotating members is multiplied, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figure 8 of the annexed drawing.
5. Forming the rotating members of a curtain or background for advertising or
spectacular devices, operating as above described, of glass tubes having their
internal surface silvered, substantially as herein described.
6. Forming the rotating members of a curtain or background for advertising or
spectacular devices, operating as above described, of one, two, or more, glass
prisms, singly, or cemented together, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figure 5 of the annexed drawing.
7. Providing the rotating members of a curtain or background for advertising
or spectacular devices, operating as above described, with cross cuts or serrations
whereby light projected on or through such rods is reflected in scintillations,
substantially as herein described.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (qual. by exam.),
10 St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.