Improved Means for Imparting Directional Information in Streets, Public Buildings and other Places.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1899
...Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1900-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1900
Improved Means for Imparting Directional Information in Streets,
Public Buildings and other Places.
I, LUDWIG SCHLENTHEIM, of No. 60, Holborn Viaduct, in the County of London,
Mosaic Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means for imparting directional information
in streets, public buildings and other places, the main object of it being to have
this information in such a position that it will be lasting and within the sight
of practically everyone.
Hitherto the information in question has been imparted by means of finger-
posts, written boards or tablets secured on walls, buildings or other supports
above the ground plane, or has been simply written upon the wall or other edifice
itself, all of which methods have their disadvantages. The finger-post, notice-
board and the like occupying space above the ground and being liable to be
knocked down the boards or tablets have to be fixed at such height as to be out
of the reach of mischievous boys and consequently out of the range of vision
of short-sighted persons and at night-time are generally invisible to all, they
also frequently have to be placed in out-of-the-way positions where one would
least expect to find them, and lastly the directions when simply written on the
wall or building have the additional disadvantage of becoming obliterated rapidly.
owing to the natural decay both of the paint and also the substance on which it
is painted.
My.present invention not only does not possess any of the above mentioned dis-
advantages but has additional advantages not possessed by any of them.
The embodiment of the invention consists in a stone, slab, block, tablet or
brick in which is inlaid bodily or in two or more pieces a representation of a
pointing hand, an arrow, an inscription or other sign or signs or characters, or
combinations of signs and characters, giving the desired directional information
such: for instance as an arrow pointing in a certain direction and beneath it the
words Leads to Oxford Street," or "To the Library," the said stone, slab, block,
tablet or brick to be laid where required as part of the flooring or pavement as
the case may be, and consequently not above the ground plane.
The directional information may be formed of material as deep as the stone or
material in which it is inlaid or it may be of any less depth.
The inlaid material may advantageously be stone, marble, glass, china, earthen-
ware and like substances where the floor itself is of similar material, but the
inlaid substance should of course be chosen of a different colour or shade, so as
to be distinctly visible.
I do not confine myself to floors of stone, marble and such like material: wood
floors as also floor coverings such as linoleum may also be similarly treated.
Thus it will be seen that my invention has the following advantages over all
previous methods:-The information is in such a position that one can scarcely
avoid seeing it; it occupies no room above the ground level, and consequently is
1
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page_text: not in the way of anything or anybody, it is as durable as the pavement or flooring
itself and when executed in glass or certain kinds of marble which glisten it is
visible even at night or in comparative darkness.
The substance in which the directional information is inlaid may also be in
one or more pieces or mosaic work.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Imparting Directional Information in Streets,
Public Buildings and other Places.
I, LUDWIG SCHLENTHEIM, of No. 60, Holborn Viaduct, in the County of London,
Mosaic Artist, 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 improved means for imparting directional information
in streets, public buildings and other places, the main object of it being to have
this information in such material and position that it will be lasting and within
the sight of practically everyone in its vicinity.
Hitherto, the information in question has been imparted by means of finger-
posts, written boards or tablets secured on walls, buildings or other supports above
the ground plane, or has been simply written upon the wall or other edifice itself,
all of which methods have their disadvantages; the finger-post, notice-board and
the like occupying space above the ground and liable to be knocked down, and
the notice on it at such height that many cannot read it; the boards or tablets
have to be fixed at such height as to be out of the reach of mischievous boys
and consequently out of the range of vision of short-sighted persons and at night-
time are generally invisible to all, they also frequently have to be placed in out-
of-the-way positions where one would least expect to find them, and lastly the
directions when simply written on the wall or building have the additional dis-
advantage of becoming obliterated rapidly owing to the natural decay, both of
the paint and also the substance on which it is applied.
My present invention not only does not possess any of the above mentioned dis-
advantages but has additional advantages not possessed by any of them.
The embodiment of the invention consists in a stone, slab, block, tablet or
brick in which is inlaid bodily or in two or more pieces a representation of a
pointing hand, an arrow, an inscription or other sign or signs or characters, or
combinations of signs and characters, giving the desired directional information
such for instance as an arrow pointing in a certain direction and beneath it the
words "Leads to Oxford Street," or "To the Library," the said stone, slab, block,
tablet or brick to be laid where required as part of the flooring or pavement as
the case may be, and consequently not above the ground plane.
The directional information may be formed of material as deep as the stone or
material in which it is inlaid or it may be of any less depth.
The inlaid material may advantageously be stone, marble, glass, china, earthen-
ware and like substances where the floor itself is of similar material, but the
inlaid substance should of course be chosen of a different colour or shade, so as
to be distinctly visible.
I do not confine myself to floors of stone, marble and such like material; wood
floors as also floor coverings such as linoleum may also be similarly treated.

page_text: Thus it will be seen that my invention has the following advantages over all
previous methods:-The information is in such a position that any one in the
vicinity can scarcely avoid seeing it; it occupies no room above the ground level,
and consequently is not in the way of anything or anybody; it is as durable as the
pavement or flooring itself, and when executed in glass or certain kinds of marble
which glisten, it is visible even at night or in comparative darkness.
The substance in which the directional information is inlaid may also be in
one or more pieces or mosaic work.
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:
The means for imparting directional information on the ground plane in streets,
and floor planes in public buildings and other places, which consists in a stone,
slab, block, tablet or brick composed of one or more pieces in which is inlaid
in one or more pieces a directional symbol e.g., an arrow, an inscription or other
sign or signs, or a combination of these, the same being made of marble, stone,
glass or any other suitable durable substance and preferably of a different colour
or lustre to that in which they are inlaid, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th dow of Max 1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.