A Collapsible Fan, which may be used as a Programme for Theatres, Concerts, Advertising, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: '
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Collapsible Fan, which may be used as a Programme for Theatres,
Concerts, Advertising, and the like.
ROBERT SPENCER, 58, South Island Place, Clapham Road, London, S.W.,
Musician, 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 collapsible fan, provided with radial slats, in such
a manner that the fan may be used combined as a programme for theatres, concerts,
balls, races, meetings, menus, and the like; and in similar means for advertising
on its face or back.
on either
The fan may be made of paper, cardboard, wood, celluloid, leatherette,
woodite,
one material mounted.
or
or any suitable material,
side of such material. For the purpose of explanation I take three
pieces of cardboard, which I cut narrow at one end, and widening out to the
top. I secure the narrow ends with an eyelet, ring, cord, or any suitable fastening,
so that the slats will have sufficient play. In fastening the slats so that the fan
will open only to its proper dimensions, I use three different ways.
(1) I affix, by any adhesive substance, or any suitable process, a cord, ribbon,
or any suitable material, to the exposed side edges, or top corners of each slat,
on either the back or front of the fan, in such a way that there will be no gaps
between the slats.
(2) I make a hole in each side edge or top corners of the centre slat, also the
inner side edges or corners of the outside slats, I then open the fan and place one
hole behind the other so that there will be no gaps between the slats. I then
connect the first and second slats by drawing through the corresponding holes a
cord, ribbon, wire, thread, or any suitable material, then I draw the cord or
ribbon through the corresponding holes of the second and third slats. I then
fasten the ends of the cord or ribbon, so as to form an endless cord or ribbon for
the slats to move on. In using more than three slats, they may be connected by
other endless cords in a similar manner. When only two slats are required, the
endless cord or ribbon may be adjusted by making only three holes, two in one
slat, and one in the other. In both cases the top edge of the fan may be of any
plain or fancy design.
(3) For the third method I make reference to the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1. Reverse side with slats separated at the top, shewing the fixed hooks.
Fig. 2. Fan opened, shewing reverse side, with the hooks projecting over the top
of the slats. Fig. 3. Shewing the front of the fan, closed, that is, as far as the
hooks will permit.
In proceeding with the third method, I cut the tops of the slats with a plain
curved edge (A) with the exception of a projecting knob or point at each corner, (B).
I then fix to each slat, with the exception of the hindmost slat, a hook, (C) made
of wire, metal plate, or any suitable substance.
The hook may be fixed with thread, or an adhesive substance, or points pro-
jecting through the slat, and turned over; they must be fixed on the left or right

page_text: hand top corners, and each hook must project over the slat between the one it is
fixed to, so that it will move along the curved edge, (A), the knobs or points (B)
at the corners preventing the slats from coming apart. The hooks may also pro-
ject over the front of the fan in that case each slat except the front one will require
hooks. In all cases any plurality of slats may be used.
niy said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A collapsible fan made of a number of pieces of cardboard, or other suitable
substance, secured at the narrow ends with an eyelet, or other suitable fastening,
and connected at the top in three different ways, (1) a length of cord or ribbon
adhering to each slat; (2) by means of holes and endless cords; (3) with hooks
projecting over the slats, the slats being cut with knobs or points at the corners to
prevent coming apart, as described above. Such a fan being useful as a pro-
gramme for theatres, concerts, advertising, and the like.
11 151
1000
ROBERT SPENCER.