Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Displaying Advertise- ments, Pictures, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Displaying Advertise-
ments, Pictures, and the like.
A communication from GUSTAVE GRAND JEAN, of Paris, France, Merchant.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
The present invention relates to a device provided with movable pictures,
advertisements or the like for use particularly in cafés and other public establish-
ments or places, although they may also be used in private houses and other
places for entertainments or amusement.
The apparatus preferably consists of a table or casing provided with a disc
secured to a rotatable spindle, which disc may be rotated either intermittently
or continuously for the purpose of exhibiting pictures or other objects, which
can be readily replaced, and are so arranged as to become visible through an
open space or spaces provided on the upper board or cover.
The mechanism for rotating the disc may be of any suitable kind, and by way
of example, two such mechanisms are represented in the accompanying drawings
and will be described hereunder.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of an apparatus, worked by a mechanism
intended for intermittent movement.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with parts of the front broken away so as to
expose the inner working arrangement.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of another form of apparatus worked by
a mechanism intended for both intermittent and continuous movement.
Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 3 with part of the front broken away.
The apparatus represented in Figures 1 and 2 consists of a casing a of circular
or any other convenient shape, the lower sides of which are preferably funnel
shaped. Around the upper edge of this casing a is a ring securing a glass
cover c. At a little distance below this glass cover is an opaque disc d provided
around its edge with openings e of any desired shape, through which are exhibited
the pictures or advertisements which are intended to be exhibited.
The mechanism constituting the movable part of the apparatus for exhibiting
pictures and the like consists of a spindle having bearings at m on the bottom
of the casing and at o on the opaque disc d. This spindle carries a disc the
บ
outer edge of which extends beyond the outer extremity of the openings e in the
disc d. On the same spindle is fixed a ratchet wheel carrying pins which.
in action, engage with a finger j on the operating lever. The latter is pivotted
at and is adapted to move forward the ratchet wheel to the extent of say one
tooth at each movement of the lever. The lever extends through the side of
the casing a and ends in a hook or handler outside the latter; it is also provided
with a projection g which at a certain position locks the pins k, thereby stopping
the movement of the disc p, when the lever 7, owing to the action of its spring f,

page_text: returns to its initial position A pawl q prevents the movement of the disc
the opposite direction.
in
According to the accompanying drawing, the opaque disc d is provided with
ten openings while the rotatory disc p is provided with a series of 20 recesses or
divisions each intended to receive a picture, advertisement &c. In this case,
therefore, only one half of the number of the latter will be exhibited through the
openings in the opaque disc, and these will alternately be hidden as the rotatory
disc is made to turn through one twentieth part of a circle, in other words, the
picture which is visible at óne.moment passes under the full portion of the opaque
disc at the next movement while the next view which was not visible at that
time appears in full view in the opening of the disc. Of course the arrangement
of the opaque disc d may be varied; it may contain only one opening so as to
expose only one picture at each movement, or, as indicated in the drawing it may
have a number of openings so as to expose a number of views at once, according
to requirements.
It will now be easily understood, that when the handler is pushed in one
direction, as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 1) the angular swing of the lever / will
carry the pawl from one tooth 1 to the next 2, while the projection g on the
lever moves out of engagement with the pins k of the ratchet wheel. On releasing
the handle the lever, actuated by its spring f, will return to its former position
and, thereby, push the tooth 2 of the ratchet wheel with which it is in engage-
ment into the place formerly occupied by first tooth while the projection g
will again interlock with the pins k, the result being that another picture or set
of pictures is brought into view.
The ratchet wheel i being provided with as many teeth as there are divisions
for the pictures, it is evident that at each operation of the ratchet wheel, a new
picture will appear in view.
This apparatus can be used either for the free or optional use or on the coin-
freed principle, the disc making a complete rotation or only one step, as required,
each time that the mechanism is set free.
In case of the coin-freed arrangement, the introduction of a coin will liberate
the gearing for a complete rotation of the disc, which will then stop automatically
and would require the insertion of another coin to act again. By the insertion
of a coin a musical box, or any other attraction may be started at the same time.
Or the musical box, or other attractions may be started by the introduction of
.a coin without having any effect on the lever, so that it can be operated indepen-
dently of the introduction of a coin as regards the movement and exhibition of
the pictures &c.
C
The apparatus represented in Figures 3 and 4 consists like the one described
above, of a casing a provided with a ring b for securing the glass cover plate
above the movable picture disc p, but the opaque disc d with its openings_e,
through which the pictures are to appear, instead of being arranged, as in the
case described, below the glass cover c is placed here above it.
The mechanism by means of which the picture disc p is moved, consists of a
bevel wheels fixed on the spindle of the rotatory disc and gearing with a corre-
sponding bevel pinion secured to one end of a shaft u, while the other end, pass-
ing through the side of the casing, is provided with a handle or head v to be
actuated by hand. Near the edge of the casing the rotatory disc p is supported
.by, and runs on, a series of rollers a, made of vulcanite, leather or other suitable
material mounted on supports fixed to the casing a.
It is easy to understand now that by means of this second mechanical
arrangement full command of the movement of the revolving disc is obtained.
The disc can be revolved more or less rapidly, stopped at any point desired, or
revolved in one direction or the other, continuously, or intermittently.
This apparatus represented in Figures 3 and 4, like the one represented in
Figures and 2, may be combined with any suitable device on the coin-freed
principle.

page_text: The apparatus may serve, by slightly modifying the parts, divisions or cases
for combinations of attractions of any kind, or for games in which a rotatory
motion is required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Apparatus for exhibiting pictures, advertisements, and the like comprising
a rotatory disc carrying on its outer border a series of pictures, advertisements
or the like, a cover disc with one or more openings corresponding to the pictures,
and mechanism for causing the rotatory disc to revolve either continuously or
intermittently, substantially as described.
2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a casing, a rotatory disc carry-
ing on its outer border a series of pictures, advertisement or the like, a cover
disc with one or more openings corresponding to the pictures, toothed mechanism
for rotating the rotatory disc either intermittently or continuously the operation
of the mechanism being effected by hand or by means of a coin-freed device,
substantially as described.
3. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a casing, a rotatory disc, as p, a
cover disc as d a central spindle h, a toothed wheel on said spindle and means
for operating said toothed wheel continuously or intermittently substantially as
described.
4. The complete apparatus substantially as described or illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 or in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of August 1890
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.