Improvements in Advertising or Bulletin Boards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
°
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Advertising or Bulletin Boards.
I, NICHOLAS STEPHENS BRAY, of Laurium, in the County of Houghton, and
State of Michigan, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 advertising or bulletin boards of that class which have
a series of pockets formed by grooving or rabbeting cleats in their opposing sides,
and reversible signs or slats interchangeably and removably fitted in the said
pockets and which are held in place by means of a strip common to all and closing
the open ends of the pockets.
The object of the present invention is to improve this character of sign or adver-
tising boards and to provide a simple and efficient means for securing the signs
within their pockets, the same consisting of a locking bar having slots at intervals
in its length to receive correspondingly shaped projections of the sign-board, and
turn buttons supported by the said projections and adapted to be turned so as to sit.
crosswise of the slots of the locking-bar and retain the latter in place.
Other objects and advantages will become manifest as the nature of the invention
is understood, and the same consists of the novel features which hereinafter will
be more particularly set forth and claimed, and which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an advertising or bulletin board constructed in
accordance with the present invention, showing the manner of mounting the same
and showing some of the slats or signs removed so as to disclose the signs provided
on the inner walls of the pockets. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the locking bar or strip detached.
Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lower iron.
The advertising or bulletin board 1 is formed with a series of pockets 2 into
which are fitted interchangeably and removably the various signs or slats 3. These
signs or slats will have the desired matter to be displayed imprinted upon both sides
thereof, so as to designate the goods, the price thereof, quality, etc. The pocket at
the top end of the board is wider than the rest and is intended to receive a sign
bearing the name, place of business and any other matter to make known the name
of the merchant, the trade name of his place of business, and any other required
information commonly placed upon signs by merchants. The pockets 2 may be
formed in any approved manner, and as shown, åre provided by attaching sub-
stantially T-shaped cleats 4 to the sides of the board. These cleats extend in
parallel relation and the pockets formed there between are closed at one end by a
strip 5, which is permanently attached to the board and gives a finished appearance
thereto, and the said pockets are closed at their opposite ends by the locking-bar 6
which has slots 7 to receive projections 8 of corresponding shape extending from
the opposite edge of the board 1.
Turn-buttons 9, having pivotal connection with the projections 8 are adapted to
pass through the slots 7 and to be turned so as to sit crosswise of the said slots and
retain the locking bar in place.
Both sides of the board will be similarly constructed, inasmuch as it is intended
to place the same so that both sides will be exposed, and for this purpose the
board will be placed so as to extend at right angles from the wall or support to
which it is secured.

page_text: That edge of the board having the removable locking-bar will be placed adjacent
to the wall or support to which the board is attached, thereby protecting the turn-
buttons to a certain extent and preventing mischievous persons from manipulating
the same and removing the locking bar and changing or altering the signs or slats 3
after the same have been properly arranged by the merchant. Irons 10 and 11 are
attached, respectively, to the top and bottom ends of the board 1, and their end
portions project a short distance beyond the inner or rear edge of the board and
have angular openings 12 to receive the vertical portions 13 of L- or hook-shaped
fastenings 14 made fast to the wall or support to which the advertising or bulletin
board is to be attached. The vertical portions 13 of the fastenings 14 are made
angular to correspond with the shape of the angle-openings 12 thereby preventing
the turning of the board after the latter is placed in position upon the fastenings.
The lower iron 11 has ears 15 which extend vertically and between which is fitted
the lower end portion of the board and which receive the fastenings or pins 16 by
means of which the board and iron are secured together.
It will be seen that the slots 7 and the projections 8 are of corresponding shape.
Hence when the locking-bar is fitted to the said projections it is incapable of
longitudinal or lateral movement and when the turn-buttons are moved so as to sit
crosswise of the slots the locking bar will be held in place and secure the signs
or slats 3 in place in their pockets. In order to increase the usefulness of the
device, advertising data is printed upon the inner walls of the pockets, so that
upon the removal of the signs or slats such data will be exposed. Additional signs
or slats will be kept on hand, so as to replace those in position when it is
required to make up a different list or change the character of the advertisement
or bulletin.
It is to be understood that the board may be formed either of wood or metal,
as desired, and when constructed of metal it is obvious that the irons 10 and 11
may be dispensed with or differently related, as there will be no necessity for
providing the same to strengthen and stiffen the board.
The signs or slats may be of a length corresponding with the length of the
pockets, or may be composed of two or more sections which unitedly correspond in
length with the length of the pocket, thereby making provision for displaying in a
single line the name of a commodity, the quantity, and the price of the quantity
so displayed. The device may be provided in any required form to suit the nature
of the place to which it is to be fitted or to meet the requirement of the merchant.
Therefore it is to be understood that in adapting the invention to meet a
particular need changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.
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 I
claim is
1. In combination, an advertising or bulletin board having transversely-disposed
pockets in both sides closed at one end and open at the opposite end, signs or slats
interchangeably fitted in the said pockets, a locking-bar for closing the open ends
of the pockets on both sides of the board and having slots or elongated openings at
intervals in its length, oblong projections extending from the edge of the board
adjacent to the open ends of the pockets to snugly fit within the slots of the
locking bar and come about flush with the outer side thereof, and turn-buttons
pivoted to the said oblong projections and registering therewith to admit of the
locking-bar being removed or placed in position, and adapted to be turned cross-
wise of the slots in the locking-bar to secure the latter in place, substantially as
described.
2. In combination, a sign or bulletin board having transverse pockets in a side
thereof, slats removably fitted within the pockets, a locking-bar having slots at
intervals in its length, oblong projections extending from an edge of the board to

page_text: snugly fit within the slots of the locking-bar and come about flush with the outer
side thereof, turn-buttons having pivotal connection with the oblong projections
and adapted to register therewith, and constructed to be turned crosswise of the
slots in the locking-bar to retain the latter in place, irons secured to the top and
bottom edges of the board and having one end extending beyond the locking-
bar and formed with an angular opening, and hooks secured to a wall or support
and having angular portions to enter the angular openings in the projecting-
ends of the irons to hold the board in the required position, substantially as set.
forth.
3
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant..