Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures, and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL DREUIFICATION.
Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures,
and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
We ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD Consulting Engineer and ROBERT DALMER
Manufacturer both of 140 Holland Road Kensington London W. do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By this invention is produced a machine capable of presenting a succession of
different surfaces within the limits of the same containing area, by means of the
surfaces being made up of a number of small movable separate parts surfaces or
elements placed closely together, and presenting as a whole a large surface of any
required area, this surface being used for the display of inscriptions, pictures and
the like, for the purpose of advertisement.
The inscriptions, pictures and the like, may be painted on the surfaces direct, or
previously printed on paper or other material or otherwise attached thereto.
"
"
We now proceed to describe a convenient form of machine, and details of con-
struction of same made in accordance with this invention. A humber of bars are
arranged preferably in a vertical position side by side, and mounted on bearings in
a frame, so that these bars can be moved together or separately, a sufficient number
being so arranged as to form the 'area required. These bars being movable, will
obviously when moved present a succession of different surfaces, and when moved
together or in groups, will present a constantly changing surface of considerable
area. It is obvious that these bars must be placed as near to each other as
possible, so as to form a practically uninterrupted surface, also such surface is
usually required to be a plane or even surface, and the bars forming same must
be free to move completely or partially round (although placed closely side by side)
without "fouling or coming into contact; to meet the above conditions we
usually employ bars of such form that their cross section, made at right angles to
their longer or vertical axis, is an equilateral triangle. Such bars can be placed
as closely side by side as wished and are capable of making complete revolutions
without "fouling or coming into contact, provided alternate ones are geared
together as one group, and the remaining ones as another group, the two groups
being moved, one in advance of, or having a "lead over the other. Each motion
which these triangular bars receive is of sufficient extent to exactly bring into
position, and present to view, the successive sides of the triangle. The various
groups of bars may be geared together by a sliding shaft or rod, this sliding shaft
or rod preferably being actuated by a pneumatic piston and cylinder, supplied by a
tube led away from the advertisement board to controlling mechanism, which admits
the blast of air at intervals as required; an electro-magnet or solenoid or similar
appliance may be used in place of the piston and cylinder. The frame or case
placed over these machines, may divide the changing surface into two or more
sections, on which independent inscriptions, pictures or the like, may be represented.
In combination with such machines, and attached to their frame may be lamps
(gas, electric or other) so arranged as to throw powerful white or coloured lights
on the various inscriptions, pictures and the like, and the mechanism actuating the
bars through the medium of pneumatic cylinders or the like, may also control the
changes in the light and any predetermined colour or colours may be thrown on
any previously chosen inscription, picture or the like, with this combination it is
"

page_text: preferable to execute the inscriptions, pictures or the like, in pure white, on a dull
black ground (or reversed), the white only, reflecting the light, the reflection from
the dull black being practically imperceptible. Bars of other cross section than
that defined may be used, suitable mechanical arrangements being made for them
to "clear" or not come into contact when in motion, such for example as providing
for alternate bars to recede, present a fresh surface and then return to normal
position, so as to again produce a plain surface.
Dated thin and 1 CA1005
. Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures,
and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD, Consulting Engineer, and ROBERT DALMER,
Manufacturer, both of 150 Holland Road, Kensington, London, W., 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:-
By this invention is produced a machine capable of presenting a succession of
different surfaces within the limits of the same containing area, such surfaces being
made up of a number of small movable separate parts, surfaces, or elements placed
closely together and presenting as a whole a large surface of any required area,
which surface is used for the display of inscriptions, pictures and the like, for the
purpose of advertisement. The inscriptions, pictures and the like may be painted
on the surface direct, or previously printed on paper or other material, or otherwise
attached thereto.
We now proceed to describe a convenient form of machine and details of con-
struction of the same made in accordance with this invention, without, of course,
limiting the invention to the particular design of apparatus chosen as example.
A number of bars are arranged, preferably in a vertical position side by side, and
mounted on bearings in a frame, so that these bars can be moved together or
separately, a sufficient number being so arranged as to form the area or surface
required. These bars being movable, will obviously, when moved, present a
succession of different surfaces, and when moved together or in groups, will present
a constantly changing surface."
It is obvious that these bars must be placed as near to each other as possible, so
as to form a practically uninterrupted surface; also, such surface is usually required
to be a plane or even surface, and the bars forming same must be free to move
completely or partially round without fouling or coming into contact, although
placed closely side by side; to meet the above conditions we usually employ bars
of such form that their cross section made at right angles to their longer or vertical
axis is an equilateral triangle. Such bars can be placed as closely side by side as
wished, and are capable of making complete revolutions without fouling or coming
into contact, provided alternate ones are geared together as one group, and the
remaining ones as another group, the two groups being moved one in advance of,
or having a lead over the other, or they may be all rotated together as a whole,
provided that they are rotated in the same direction and with uniform motion.
Each motion which these triangular bars receives, is of sufficient extent to exactly
bring into position and present to view the successive sides of the triangle. The
various groups of bars may be geared together by a sliding shaft or rod, this
sliding shaft or rod, preferably being actuated by a pneumatic piston and cylinder
connected by a tube to a source of compressed air, which tube is led away from the
advertisement board to controlling mechanism, which admits the blast of air at

page_text: intervals as required, an electro magnet or solenoid or similar appliance may be
used in place of the piston and cylinder.
Referring to the drawings hereto,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a similar view to an
enlarged scale;
Fig. 3 a sectional plan on Y_Y,
Fig. 4 a cross section on Z Z.
SSS are the bars or spokes shewn in position in the frame F, and held by the
bearing plates B B, the pivots P of the bars or spokes resting on strips of plate
glass G, to lessen the friction, these strips being let into the frame. R is a rack
(supported by bearers which may be about 6 inches apart, on which it slides) which
runs the whole length of the frame and into which the spur wheels or pinions W,
on the upper extremity of the bars or spokes gear. When fixing the bars or spokes
in position in the frame, a small space should be left between them, to allow for
free motion or clearance. The working of the actuating mechanism is as follows:-
Air under pressure is first admitted to the cylinder C, which acting on its piston
draws the rod L, and with it the long rack R, an adjusted distance, causing the
bars or spokes to turn on their axis through a part of a circle, and thus present
another or succeeding surface.
The motion is then arrested by the pawl N on the rack coming into contact with
the stop pin Q; at a convenient interval of time, air under pressure is now admitted
to the cylinder H, which acts on the draw bar D on which the stop pin Q is fixed,
thus releasing the piston rod of the cylinder C, and allowing it to complete the
stroke drawing the rack R with it, and thus causing the bars or spokes to present
another surface. Again after a suitable interval of time both cylinders are allowed
to exhaust through the same pipes E E' which admitted the compressed air when
the spring V will bring the rack R and with it the spokes or bars and piston of
cylinder C back to the normal position, the stop pin Q also coming to its original
position by the action of the spring T. The arrangements for supplying and
controlling the compressed air for properly working the cylinders in the manner
above described do not form part of our present invention and are therefore not
shewn. The frame or case placed over these machines may divide the surface into two
or more sections, on which independent inscriptions, pictures, or the like, may be
represented. In combination with such machines, and attached to their frame may
be lamps (gas electric, or other) so arranged as to throw powerful white or coloured
lights on the various inscriptions, pictures, and the like and the mechanism
actuating the bars through the medium of the pneumatic cylinders or the like, may
also control the changes in the light, and any predetermined colour or colours may
With this
be thrown on any previously chosen inscription picture and the like.
combination, it is preferable to execute the inscriptions, pictures or the like in pure
white, on a dull back ground (or reversed) the white only, reflecting the light, the
reflection from the dull black being practically imperceptible. Bars or spokes of
other cross section than that of an equilateral triangle may be used, as when for
example the apparatus is required to display four different surfaces, suitable
mechanical arrangements being made for them to clear or not come into contact,
when in motion, such for example as providing for alternate bars to be fitted into
a separate frame, so that they can be made to recede before revolving on their
axis, and then be returned to normal position side by side with the other bars, so as
again to produce a plane surface, but in order to avoid the complication of such a
design, preferably we employ bars or spokes of a similar cross section to those
shown in front view and plan at Figures 5 and 6 which are capable of making
complete revolutions without coming into contact or fouling each other, provided
alternate ones S S are grouped together as one rank and geared to and actuated by
one rack R and the remaining ones S' S₁ to an independent rack R' the two racks
being actuated separately at different times. The slight curvature on the face of
such bars or spokes when viewed from even a short distance, is practically of no
disadvantage to the clear representation of the words or devices displaced thereon.

page_text: Having now 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. An apparatus to present a succession of different surfaces consisting of a
number of movable elements or parts placed in close proximity and preferably
taking the form of pivotted bars or spokes, the change of surface as a whole being
effected by the motion of the said elements or parts. Inscriptions devices or
pictures being executed on the various surfaces for the purpose of advertisement.
2. The combination with such apparatus of actuating mechanism which com-
municating motion to the various movable elements or parts causes them to present
their successive sides thus presenting a succession of different surfaces for the
purpose described.
.
3. The particular type or design or method of construction of the apparatus
referred to in the first claim in which the movable elements consist of spokes or
bars preferably of triangular and other cross section substantially as herein
described.
.
4. In such apparatus, when the cross-section of the bars or spokes, so requires,
the gearing together of alternate bars or spokes, so that they can be actuated
separately in alternate groups as described.
T
1002
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.