A New or Improved Advertising Device.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1899-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1899
A New or Improved Advertising Device.
I, KARL RIEDMÜLLER, of Neu Ulm, Bavaria, Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: —
The present invention relates to an advertising medallion designed chiefly for
use in shop windows for the purpose of attracting the attention of the public.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 shows a form of the device in elevation,
Figure 2 is a back view of the operating mechanism.
3 is a side view of the same, and
Figure
Figures 4 and 5 are details.
Figure 1 shows a butterfly, and the object of the invention is to create the
impression that the butterfly is soaring in the air and to make it appear to alter-
nately alight upon and fly away from the flowers affixed to the frame a'. Instead
of a butterfly a beetle, a figure of an angel, or the like may be employed as the
moving figure.
According to this invention therefore there is mounted behind a rigid frame a¹,
which may be of any desired shape, a mirror a which mirror is set in motion and
has attached to it the figure selected, in the present case half a butterfly. The
edge of the mirror being concealed its movement cannot be perceived, and it
appears as if the figure only which is attached to the mirror moves and not the
mirror, whereas in reality the figure follows the movements of the mirror itself.
This optical illusion is preeminently heightened by imparting a fluttering move-
ment to the figure by means of suitable mechanism concealed behind the mirror.
To produce the above described effect the mirror « is mounted upon an axle b
turning in bearings in a frame c. This frame c carries a clockwork movement d
of any well known form and uniformly driven by a spring or weight.
The clockwork operates an edge cam e (Figures 3, 4 and 5) which vibrates a
lever connected to the axle 6 and which causes the mirror to swing to and fro
irregularly. g is a weight attached to the back of the mirror and serving to
return the mirror to its normal position.
On looking at the edge cam it will be seen that by this arrangement, the
butterfly is made to rise from the flower with an irregular upward movement, then
descends slowly and rests upon the flower until the lever f is forced from its
position and the mirror again oscillated.
In addition to this movement of the mirror a the clockwork is made to impart
a movement to the butterfly and for this purpose there is provided a rapidly
revolving star wheel which rocks an elbow lever i. This elbow lever i vibrates
a spring secured to the back of the mirror, and the vibrations of the spring
are transferred to a wire stirrup passing through the mirror, and upon the end
of which the half butterfly is affixed. In this manner motion is imparted to the
butterfly independently of the movement of the mirror and by reflection in the
mirror the impression of a fluttering butterfly is produced.

page_text: 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) An advertising medallion with apparently independent soaring figures said
figures (a butterfly, beetle, angel or the like) moving with an oscillating mirror,
and having also motion imparted to them independently of the mirror, so that
by reflection therein the figure appears to be soaring freely in the air.
(2) A form of construction of the invention claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a
mirror a having its edge concealed by a fixed frame a¹ and mounted upon an
axle b, said axle having a rocking motion imparted to it by a train of clock-
work and a figure carried by a wire stirrup passing through the mirror and
actuated by a vibrating elbow lever operated by the clockwork in such manner
as to impart a fluttering movement to the figure.
(3) A new or improved advertising device constructed arranged and adapted to
operate substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 31st day of July 1899.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M. I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Associate Agent.