An Improved Apparatus for Issuing Cards Bearing the Numbers of Public Vehicles, also applicable as a Calendar and for Advertising Purposes and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Issuing Cards Bearing the Numbers
of Public Vehicles, also applicable as a Calendar and for
Advertising Purposes and the like.
A communication by Dr. GYULA ADRIAN POLLACSEK, of 91¹, Wilhelmstrasse,
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Director of Sea Water Baths.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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:-
It is well known that articles are frequently left in public vehicles everywhere,
the recovery of which articles is rendered doubtful owing to the number of the
vehicle in question being unknown to the owner of the lost property. This last
drawback is intended to be removed by the invention which forms the object of
this application, and which relates to an apparatus designed to issue to the passenger
a small card bearing the number of the vehicle.
This apparatus is shown on the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 being a vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus at rest.
Figure 2 shows the apparatus in operation.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same.
Figure 4 is an outside view on a smaller scale.
Figure 5 shows a view of the slot.
Figure 6 shows a modification of the arrangement of the cards.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular box a with a lid b, which can be taken
off or lifted up. A fixed bottom is preferably formed so as to slope towards the
front, and projects in front a little beyond the front wall d of the box. This front
wall d is only firmly connected at d¹ and d to the two side walls of the box, so
that it forms a kind of spring tongue. The lower edge of the wall d is bent
outwards parallel to the projecting part c¹ of the bottom c. A frame turning on
pins ele is arranged on the two side walls a' and a³ of the box, and this frame has
at one side an arm g which, when the frame is pressed down, causes the lever h
revolving on the pin i, and arranged on the under side of the bottom c, to
move out.
A slot is arranged on the bottom c, running from the back to the front, in
which slot a slide piece k moves by means of a projection l. In the projection /
there is a slot m, see Figure 5, through which the point of the lever h projects.
A spring n, attached to the bottom c, is passed with its free end through a second
hole n provided in the projection 1, and moves the slide k always towards the rear
wall of the box.
The mechanism placed on the under side of the bottom c is enclosed in a box 0,
which projects somewhat at the side where the arm g is situated, and is here
provided with slots o', o', for the passage of the arm g.
The box a is filled with cards p, and the pile of cards is preferably weighted
with a metal plate r. The cards bear the number of the vehicle in question,
and may also have notices in order to serve simultaneously for advertising
purposes.
:
In consequence of the inclined position of the bottom c, the cards rest against
the front wall, and leave a free space behind them, so that the curved-up rear
edge s of the slide k stands behind the bottom card. If the person using the

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vehicle presses the frame downwards, the slide is moved forward by means of
the arm g and the lever h, the spring n being by this means simultaneously com-
pressed. The slide then carries by means of its turn: !-up edge s, the bottom
card, and first pushes up the spring front wall d and causes the end of the card to
project by the opening thus formed.
On the frame being released, the slide k springs back into its normal position,
and its edges places itself behind the next card, while the card which has been
pushed forward remains between the projecting part c' of the bottom and the turned
out edge of the front wall d, and thus may be easily withdrawn by the passenger.
When this has been done, the front wall springs back into its normal position.
The bottom c of the apparatus may also be horizontal; in this case, the back
wall of the box is preferably recessed out in the ear just above the bottom (as
shown in Figure 6) in such a way that the edg of the slide comes exactly
behind the bottom card.
In vehicles which are provided with a door, the latter may be connected by
means of a cord or bar, and suitably arranged elbow levers, with the lever h in
such a way that the pushing forward of the card takes place automatically on the
door being opened. The frame with the arm g may then be omitted.
This apparatus may be also employed as a calendar. In this case, it is filled
with 366 cards, which are numbered for the several days of the year. The card
drawn out each day is inserted behind the frame in the manner shown in
Figures 1 and 4, which thus clamps the card between itself and the front wall by
the recoil of the frame under the action of the spring n. It is evident that such
a calendar may also be made with only 31 ca ds, if it be not desired to give the
name of the month.
Having now particularly described and, ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
An apparatus for issuing cards for calendar or advertising purposes, or for giving
the numbers of public vehicles, or the like, consisting of a card-holding receptacle
or box a having a spring front wall d, weight and slotted bottom c, a slide k,
having a turned up edges and slotted projection working in a slot c³, a lever h
engaging with said slide and operated by an arm g of a frame f, spring n adapted
to return the said slide to the rear of the box, and a small cover or box o below
the bottom C, the whole constructed and combined substantially as described and
shown.
2. In an apparatus such as described, a front wall d firmly secured to the card-
holding receptacle at two points on, whereby the said wall is given a certain
amount of spring, substantially as an for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of March.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.