Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Advertisements.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Advertisements.
We, CHARLES TOMLINSON, of 47, Darwin Street, Old Kent Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, and WILLIAM HEPPELL, of 61, Albyn Road,
St. John's, Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to apparatus for exhibiting advertisements and it
relates more particularly to means whereby the advertisements can be periodically
and automatically changed so as to bring them successively into view.
Our apparatus is composed of a series of superposed bars of triangular section
bearing advertisements on each of their three faces and mounted in suitable
bearings so that they will readily move on their axes. One of these bars is provided
with mechanism whereby it is periodically caused to turn one third round by means
of any suitable motor, and this turning movement is simultaneously transmitted to
all the other bars of the series by means of chains and wheels or other suitable
gearing. The mechanism whereby the turning movement is imparted by means of
the motor preferably consists of a three-toothed ratchet wheel mounted on the
spindle or axis of the bar to which the motion is first imparted, and of a pawl
on a lever actuated by the motor so that every time the lever is moved by the
motor the pawl pushes the ratchet wheel together with the bar one third round and
then returns the lever and pawl to their former position ready to act on the wheel
at the next movement from the motor. After every turning movement of the bars
a fresh side or face of each is presented to the front, each particular side or face
thus coming to the front at every third movement.
In order to ensure that the bars shall come truly to position at each movement
we fit each of their axes or spindles with a three-sided piece which in the turning
movement first lifts a weight and then allows this to come down upon one side of
the said three sided piece. The weight may conveniently consist of an upright bar
with as many horizontal arms as there are three-sided pieces, the arms extending
over the said pieces, one to each, the upright bar and arms thus forming the
weight to all the three side pieces. Or the weight can be lifted by a cam or
otherwise.
Our apparatus will comprise either a single series of superposed bars or more
than one series, say two series set back to back, according to the position in which
it is to be placed, that is to say, whether it will be visible from one side or
from two.
Although we have described the advertising bars as being triangular in section,
this being the form that can be utilized without waste of space, they can be made
square or otherwise; and instead of being superposed as hereinbefore stated they
can be placed side by side.
The apparatus will be enclosed in a suitable box or frame leaving only the
advertizing bars visible, and to attract attention a gong or bell may be added, this
device being sounded automatically at every change of the bars.
When the apparatus is in a fixed position any convenient motor can be used to
actuate it. When it is carried by a vehicle, such for example as a tricycle it can
be actuated from the wheels, axle, or other moving part.
Dated this 19th day of Ma 1890
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Advertisements.
We, CHARLES TOMLINSON, of 47, Darwin Street, Old Kent Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, and WILLIAM HEPPELL, of 61, Albyn Road,
St. John's, Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, 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 :-
Our invention has reference to apparatus for exhibiting advertisements and it
relates more particularly to means whereby the advertisements can be periodically
and automatically changed so as to bring them successively into view.
Our apparatus is composed of a series of superposed bars of triangular section
bearing advertisements on each of their three faces and mounted in suitable bearings
so that they will readily move on their axes. These bars are provided with
mechanism whereby they are periodically caused to turn one third round by means
of any suitable motor, this turning movement being simultaneously imparted to all
the bars of the series. The mechanism whereby the turning movement is imparted
by means of the motor can obviously be varied but that hereinafter described is
what we prefer. After every turning movement of the bars a fresh side or face of
each is presented to the front, each particular side or face thus coming to the front
at every third movement.
-
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a front elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation
and Figure 3 a plan of an apparatus constructed according to our invention in its
preferred form, these figures showing the parts in their normal position. Figure 4
is an end elevation showing the parts in the position they occupy when the cam
hereinafter described has made half a revolution from the position seen in Figure 2.
a, a represent the triangular bars which bear the advertisements. The drawings
show the apparatus as provided with six of these bars or two series of three set
back to back, but the number employed is of course optional. Each of these bars
has trunnions or journals mounted in bearings in end plates b, b so that they will
readily turn on their axes. Below the bars (or in any other convenient position) is
a suitable motor such for example as a train of clock work actuated by a spring
barrel. The motor drives a spindle c which passes through one of the end plates b
and carries a cam d which is thereby caused to rotate say once a minute or any
prearranged period. The cam during its rotation acts upon and raises a stud e
together with an upright bar f to which this stud is fixed. The bar f carries
horizontal arms g, g which are fitted with upper wedge shaped pieces h, h and
under wedge shaped pieces i i. On the end or trunnion of each of the advertising
bars a, a is a three sided piece k having recesses I, l. It will be seen that in the
position of the parts indicated in Figure 2 the ends of the wedge shaped pieces h, h
are a little to the one side of the bottom points of the three-sided pieces k, k, and
that in the position of the parts indicated in Figure 4, the ends of the wedge-shaped
pieces i, are a little to the other side of the top points of the three-sided
pieces k, k. Consequently while the cam d rotates, and during the latter portion
of each rotation, gradually lifts the stud e, upright bar f, and horizontal arms g, g.
to the position seen in Figure 4, the upper wedges h, h by acting against the
three-sided pieces k, k, cause these to gradually turn, together with the advertising
bars a, u, to the extent of th of a revolution, and that when the nose or point of
the cam has passed the stud e, that is to say, immediately the cam has passed
the position seen in Figure 4, the upright bar f and horizontal arms 9 g at once
drop of their own weight to the position seen in Figure 2, and in this movement
the under wedges i, i act against the three sided pieces k, k and thereby impart
to them and to the advertising bars a, a another th of a revolution, so that the
next side or face of each bar is brought truly into view. The upright bar fis
guided in its movement by slots m, m which work on pins n, n on the end piece b.

page_text: Our apparatus can comprise either two series of superposed bars set back to back
as shown or only a single series according to the position in which it is to be
placed, that is to say, whether it will be visible from one side or from two.
Although we have described the advertising bars as being triangular in section,
this being the form that can be utilized without waste of space, they can be
made square or otherwise and instead of being superposed as hereinbefore stated
they can be placed side by side; but in this case as the weight of the bar f
and arms g, g cannot be utilized to give the th turn to the bars a, a as herein-
before described, a spring or springs can be substituted for the wedge pieces i i.
The apparatus will be enclosed in a suitable box or frame leaving only the
advertizing bars visible. In order to attract attention a gong or bell may be
added, the device being sounded automatically at every change of the bars.
With this object we have shown a three armed striker p on the end of one of
the bars a, a gong (not shown) being so placed as to be struck by one of the
three arms at every change of position of the bars a.
7 Figure 3 is a stay rod to keep the two end plates 1, b at the proper distance
apart.
.
When the apparatus is in a fixed position any convenient motor can be used
to actuate it. When it is carried by a vehicle such for example as a tricycle it
can be actuated from the wheels, axle or other moving part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:—
1. In an apparatus for exhibiting advertisements a series of bars of triangular
or other section bearing advertisements on their various sides or faces, the said
bars being connected by mechanism, such as herein before described, with a motor,
in such manner that they are caused to periodically turn a given distance on
their axes whereby the various sides or faces of each bar are brought successively
into view, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The particular arrangement of mechanism, hereinbefore described and repre-
sented in the accompanying drawings, for imparting a periodical turning movement
to each bar of a series of advertising bars having several sides or faces as set
forth.
Dated this 11th day of March 1891.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.