AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIGNALLING WITH REFERENCE TO CONCERTED EVOLUTIONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leonard Plimpton, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America, at present residing at Bedford Place, Russell
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIGNALLING WITH REFERENCE TO
CONCERTED EVOLUTIONS."
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 28th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leonard Plimpton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th July 1877.
JAMES LEONARD PLIMPTON, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, at present residing at Bedford Place, Russell Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIG-
NALLING WITH REFERENCE TO CONCERTED EVOLUTIONS."
This Invention chiefly relates to a means of or an apparatus for obviating certain
difficulties and inconveniences heretofore experienced in connection with the use of
guidable roller skates of the kind originated by me, and patented on my behalf in
England by Alfred Vincent Newton on the Twenty-fifth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, No. 2190.
In the customary use of such skates the skaters follow one another in a circuit,
the central space of which is left comparatively unoccupied, and which might be
utilized for the practice of concerted evolutions were it not for the noise of the
skaters preventing verbal directions from being readily understood without requiring
more attention than those practising merely for pleasure find it agreeable or con-
venient to give.
In the usual practice of concerted evolutions the skaters form in groups or circles,
preferably composed of eight persons, who face generally towards the centre of their
respective circles; furthermore, it is both difficult and expensive to secure the
services of an experienced conductor to give verbal directions, while even such a
person with a well-trained voice finds it extremely difficult to direct or uniformly
guide a small number of skaters while skating around is being practised by others.
The leading object of my Invention is to enable an ordinary person with little

page_text: practice and without difficulty to direct a large as well as a small number of skaters
when facing as above mentioned, and to do this without unduly taxing their atten-
tion even when surrounded with noise, and in this manner to utilize more fully
than heretofore the central portion of a rink or skating surface for the practice of
concerted evolutions.
My Invention consists in an apparatus for displaying and pointing out as required,
correspondingly at two or more suitable points, characters, signs, or symbols signi-
fying various concerted evolutions to persons practising in groups or circles, and for
audibly calling attention to such indications, and for giving audible or visible signals
to aid in the simultaneous commencement of such evolutions.
The improved apparatus consists, first, of two or more indicating instruments,
each or all of which are provided with means whereby characters or symbols known
by previous agreement as signifying various concerted evolutions are shown in such
a manner that when the main operating instrument is worked by the attendant,
the whole set of indicators employed will present corresponding indications, and one
at least of such indications will be in convenient view of each person practising in
their respective groups or circles. One of such indicating instruments may be
described as preferably consisting of a hollow post fixed to a suitable base, and
carrying a displaying frame which is capable of sliding vertically over the face of
the post, and which is held in position by means of a counterweighted cord.
In the face of the frame is a central vertical groove or recess, in which an indi-
cating block suspended from a cord is free to slide. On either side of this vertical
groove are horizontal guides for receiving slides, on which are marked symbols of
the evolutions intended to be executed, and it is by bringing the indicator in line
with any one of these slides that the chosen indication will be communicated to the
executants. In front of this indicating block is suspended a smaller one, which
moves up and down with it when merely a fresh symbol is to be brought under
notice, but which has an independent motion in order to give visible signals to aid
in the uniform commencement of the evolution indicated. These movements of the
indicating blocks are produced by carrying their respective suspension cords over
suitable guides and under pullies fitted to a slide which is free to move in vertical
guides attached to the post of one of the indicating instruments or otherwise, as
most convenient. The ends of these suspension cords are attached to spools secured
to a board at the upper end of the vertical guides, and by turning these spools the
length of the cords may be adjusted as desired.
.
The suspension cords of the indicators of all the instruments employed for the
purpose above explained are led under the pulleys of the slide, and thence to spools
provided to receive them on the spool board.
The pulley slide is moved vertically in its guides by means of a handle for
the purpose of adjusting correspondly all the indicators of the combined indi-
cating instruments. The pulley which receives the cords of the small indicating
blocks is mounted on a pin projecting from a sliding bar fitted to the back of the
slide. This sliding bar is actuated independently of the slide by a thumb lever, to
which is pivotted a pull bar for actuating a hammer and causing it to strike a bell
mounted on the face of the slide; thus, by pressing against the thumb lever, all the
small indicating blocks may be simultaneously put in action; by depressing the
thumb lever to its full extent the bell is struck, and an audible signal produced for
the purpose of calling attention to the evolution indicated, after which a further
stroke or strokes of the bell may be given as a signal to facilitate the uniform com-
mencement of the indicated evolution; or by depressing the thumb lever a less
distance, the small indicating blocks will be moved, and thus visible commencement
signals may be given if preferred.
I would remark that I do not wish to confine the use of my Invention merely to
guiding roller skaters, as ice skaters and others practising concerted evolutions may:
be guided by its use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Leonard Plimpton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
January 1878.
JAMES LEONARD PLIMPTON, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, at present residing at Bedford Place, Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND SIG-
NALLING WITH REFERENCE TO CONCERTED EVOLUTIONS."
This Invention chiefly relates to a means of or an apparatus for obviating certain
difficulties and inconveniences heretofore experienced in connection with the use of
guidable roller skates of the kind originated by me, and patented on my behalf by
Alfred Vincent Newton on the Twenty-fifth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
In the customary use of such skates the skaters follow one another in a circuit,
the central space of which is left comparatively unoccupied, and which might be
utilized for the practice of concerted evolutions were it not for the noise of the
skaters preventing verbal directions from being readily understood without requiring
inore attention than those practising merely for pleasure find it agreeable or con-
venient to give.
In the usual practice of concerted evolutions the skaters form in groups or circles,
preferably composed of eight persons, who face generally towards the centre of their
respective circles; furthermore, it is both difficult and expensive to secure the
services of an experienced conductor to give verbal directions, while even such
a person with a well-trained voice finds it extremely difficult to direct or
uniformly guide a small number of skaters while skating around is being practised
by others.
The leading object of my Invention is to enable an ordinary person with little
practice and without difficulty to direct a large as well as a small number of skaters
when facing as above mentioned, and to do this without unduly taxing their atten-
tion even when surrounded with noise, and in this manner to utilize more fully
than heretofore the central portion of a rink or skating surface for the practice of
concerted evolutions.
My Invention consists in an apparatus for displaying and pointing out as required
correspondingly at two or more suitable points, characters, signs, or symbols signi-
fying various concerted evolutions to persons practising in groups or circles, and for
audibly calling attention to such indications, and for giving audible or visible signals
to aid in the commencement of such evolutions.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the two or more evolu-
tion indicators employed in carrying out the object of my Invention. Whether two,
four, or more of such indicators are used, only one will have attached to it, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism by which the operator works the indicators
employed, and, if preferable, this mechanisin may be applied to a separate post, or
otherwise suitably secured. A (Figures 1 and 2) is a base to which is fitted an
upright post B, supporting a displaying frame C, an indicating block D, and an
ornamental cap E.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken through the line y, y, shewing the
internal construction of the upright post B, which is slotted vertically in its front
face to permit of the rebated piece F attached to the back of the frame C sliding
freely up and down. The frame C is balanced by a counterweight suspended in the
chamber in the back of the post by a cord passing over a pulley, as indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 2, which facilitates the raising and lowering of the frame Cas
required.
The displaying frame C is preferably constructed, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, with
divisions or slides, into which are placed removeable slips of cardboard or other
suitable material marked with characters, signs, or symbols signifying by previous

page_text: agreement the evolutions to be performed in concert by more or less of those prac-
tising in the different groups or circles. The characters, as shewn, may be simply
initial letters of the leading words used to designate movements as in skating. The
letters S, D, R, may be understood for "all skate double (or in couples) to the right,"
or S, S, L, skate single to the left, and so on for a sufficient variety of movements.
In the face of the frame C is a central vertical groove or recess in which the indi-
cating block D, suspended from a cord, slides freely. The divisions upon the right
and left of the vertical groove are out of line the one with the other to the extent of
one half their width, more or less. The block D is designed to call attention to the
slip or characters nearest its own level; thus it will be seen that characters upon 1
either side of the groove may be plainly indicated by bringing the block D in line
with any one of these slides.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of one of a set of spools whereby each of
several cords, berein-after referred to for operating the indicators and signals, may
be adjusted in length. G is the spool attached to a fixed board, which is set in the 1
position shown in Fig. 1; this spool when loose can be turned so as to wind or
unwind a portion of cord, and it is tightened by means of a clamping nut H.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view, and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken
through the line 2, 2, of an operating slide I fitted to run in vertical guides J
attached to the post B (see Fig. 3). The slide is moved vertically in its guides by s
means of a handle K for the purpose of operating correspondingly all the indicators D
of the combined indicating instruments employed. At the lower end of the slide I
is mounted a flanged pulley L. M is a flanged pulley mounted on a stud or pin
projecting from a sliding bar m, which fits in a rebated groove in the back of the
slide I; this bar has a slot into which the inner end of the thumb lever N is fitted
for the purpose of actuating the pulley M by the movement of the lever N, to which
lever is also pivotted, as shown, a pull bar O for actuating the hammer P. Q is a
spring for drawing downward the pull bar O, and for allowing it to yield to the
tripping pin R, and also to yield while taking a new hold upon the hammer lever P.
A similar spring serves to cause the hammer P when liberated to strike the bell S,
mounted on the face of the slide I.
Fig. 7 represents a front, and Fig. 8 a side view of an indicating block D and
suspending cord V, with a small signal block T of a different colour suspended and
male to move up and down in front of the indicating block D by a cord U. The
cords U and V of each evolution indicator pass upward and over a pulley or a
smooth guiding surface W, and from this part W of each evolution employed the
cords pass to the smooth guiding surface X of the operating mechanism (Figures 1
and 2), and from X such cords pass down and under the pulley L (Fig. 1), and
thence upward to their respective adjusting spools G; and the cords which suspend
the signal blocks T pass from X down and under the pulley M up to their respective
adjusting spools.
When the slide I of the operating mechanisın or the instrument at which the
attendant is stationed is moved upwards, it slackens the suspending cords of the
indicator D and signal block T, and allows them to move down by their own weight
simultaneously, and conversely when the operating slide I is moved downwards, the
indicating and signal blocks are drawn upwards. The signal block T is however
intended to receive also an independent motion down and up in front of the indi-
cator D for the purpose of giving visible commencement signals when required; this
motion is produced by the attendant alternately pressing upon and releasing the
thumb lever N, which alternately lifts and drops the bar m together with the
pulley M, which is mounted upon it. When the pulley M is raised the suspending
cord U will be slackened, and the signal block T will fall to the lower edge of the
block D; and on the depression of the pulley the signal block T will rise to its normal
position, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8. The operating slide I and pulley M only
move one half the distance which their movement causes the indicating and sig-
nalling blocks to traverse, and thus the slide I and lever N will always be within
convenient working range of the operator's hands.
E

page_text: Fig. 9 is a diagram representing a plan of a rectangular apartment or skating
surface with circles A, B, C, &c., marked therein, and shewing the mode of plac ng
and connecting four indicators, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are so arranged relatively
to the circles in which evolutions are to be executed that one at least of the four
indicators (all of which are made to give corresponding indications) will be in con-
venient view of every person practising in the circles without requiring any one to
inconveniently turn the head when facing inwards, as indicated by the arrows. .As.
shewn in the diagrain, the circles may be distinguished from one another by letters,
and the different ladies, gentlemen, or couples taking part in each of the circles may
be known by figures, thus 1 L may mean "first lady;" 1 G, "first gentleman;" and
1 C, "first couple ;" and so with the remaining figures 2, 3, and 4, while the figure 8
would indicate all as being engaged. A letter preceding any of the above figures
may be known as referring to a particular circle, thus A 1 G would mean "first
gentleman in the A circle only." In the absence of any letter preceding a figure
the indication may be taken as a movement extending to all circles, as 1G would
mean the "first gentleman in each of the circles," and in the absence of a figure the
movement may be understood as referring to all of the skaters in all of the circles,
thus SDR would be for all to "skate in couples twice round the circles to the
right."
It is obvious that the characters, signs, or symbols employed, as well as the parts
for displaying and indicating the same, may be changed or varied to suit different
circumstances, and under some circumstances as few as two indicators may be made
to fairly answer when arranged with reference to the circles, as shewn in Fig. 10.
The mode of guiding the suspension cords to the main operating instrument, indi-
cated at No. 1, Figures 9 and 10, will depend on the character of the place to which
the Invention is applied, and the means requisite for supporting and guiding the
cords under all ordinary circumstances will readily suggest themselves to any com-
petent mechanic.
The indicating parts in all the instruments employed being made to correspond,
and the several indicators D and T being brought to and adjusted at their upper
limits, and the operating slide I being drawn to its lowest position, the mode of
operating is as follows:-With the hand applied to the ring or handle K the operator
inoves the slide I so as to bring the blocks of the several indicators employed
directly opposite the slip containing the sign or symbol of the evolution next to be
executed; this being done at the proper instant the bell S is sounded by pressing
sufficiently on the thumb lever N, this stroke of the bell being understood as a
signal for calling attention to the slip pointed to in the several indicators. By this
arrangement the attention of those practising in the circles is relieved or not
required until audibly summoned to the evolution indicated. Upon seeing that all
are ready a further stroke or strokes of the bell may be given by the operator to
facilitate the uniform commencement of the evolution indicated. If however a
further ringing of the bell is objectionable, or if visible commencement signals are
preferred, the thumb lever N is not pressed sufficiently to cause the bell to ring, but
just enough to raise the pulley M a suitable distance to actuate the signal blocks T,
and thus, after attention has been audibly called to the different indicators, the
requisite commencement signal may be given by the movement of the blocks T.
I do not confine myself to the precise construction as above of the different parts,
as many variations and modifications may be made therein, or mechanical equi-
valents substituted, without deviating from the main features of my Invention,
which consists of an apparatus for displaying and pointing out as required corre
spondingly at two or more suitable points, characters, signs, or symbols signifying
various concerted evolutions to persons practising in groups or circles, and for
audibly calling attention to such indications, and for giving audible or visible signals
to aid in their simultaneous commencement; nor do I confine the use of my Inven-
tion merely to guiding roller skaters, as ice skaters and others practising concerted
evolutions may be guided by its use; neither do I desire to be understood as laying
claim to any of the separate parts which I employ to make up my said Invention.

page_text: Having now explained the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Apparatus
for Indicating and Signalling with Reference to Concerted Evolutions," and described
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim, an apparatus constructed with two
or more indicators, a mechanism for operating the same, and a device or devices for
giving signals, arranged and operated substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Leonard Plimpton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JAMES L. PLIMPTON. (L.S.)