or Relating to Apparatus for Advertising, Exhibition and similar Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Abblication, 28th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
0
35
mprovements in
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
•
or Relating to Apparatus for Advertising,
Exhibition and similar Purposes.
We, THEODOR LÜTZENRATH, Merchant, of Erfurt, 27, Bahnhofstrasse, and CARL
ANDING, Merchant, of Weimar, 22, Qrundterstrasse, both in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a mechanical movable figure for advertising, exhibition
and similar purposes, which stands in a forwardly inclined posture takes up
successively articles supported by a suitable device straightens itself and turns
partly round, raises its head and arm displays the articles for a certain time and
then repeats all these movements in the reverse order and returns thus into its
original posture, puts down the article it has been displaying and takes up another
which has been advanced in the meanwhile and so on.
The figure used for this purpose may represent a human form or it may take the
form of an animal as for instance a dog.
The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a construction
according to the present invention the mechanical figure shown being of human
shape.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation through the mechanism of the figure which is
about to take up an article to be exhibited.
Fig. 2 is a partial section on the lino x-y (Fig. 4) seen in the direction
indicated by the arrow I.
Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation seen in the direction indicated by the arrow I
(Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section on the line A-B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a detail-plan of the device supporting the different articles to be
exhibited said device being constituted in the present case by a vertical rotatably
supported table.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the figure and
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detail views.
The construction of the apparatus is as follows:-
The frame 1 supporting the figure and the rotatable table supports in bearings 2
a main shaft 3 which is driven by worm gearing 5 from a transverse shaft 4.
The shaft 4 may be operated by hand or from any desired source
power.
of
serves to
On the main shaft 3 there are mounted cams of which the cam
produce the movement of the lower arms and of the fore finger and thumb o
the figure, and the cam 7 to produce the movement of the upper arms and of the
head of the figure.
The figure is constituted by a metallic frame or body and is pivotted at 8 and
40 (Fig. 6) on a cross-bar 10 secured to the upper end of the vertical spindle 1
mounted on the frame 1.
In this way the figure is enabled to bend and to straighten itself again and to tur

page_text: The turning sideways of the figure (to say an extent of 24 of a revolution)
takes place about the vertical spindle 11 which is operated by means of two slides 12
and 13 (Fig. 4) mounted on the main shaft and arranged at an angle of 180°
relatively to each other.
The slides 12 and 13 operate alternately the ends of a lever 14 secured
to the lower portion of the spindle 11 said lever striking in its end positions
against an arm 16 secured to the bracket 15, whereby the extent of turning of
the figure is limited.
During this movement the straightening of the figure from the sloping or
inclined position shown in Fig. 1 is effected by means of the band 17 of the body
being connected to an oblique rod 18 the other end of which is articulated at 19 to
the frame.
As the upper end of this rod 18 engages with the centre of the front half 17ª of the
band 17 and its lower end with the end 1 of the frame, the rod 18 will describe,
when the figure turns sideways an arc of circle about the point 19 as a centre
whereby the figure will be caused to come into an upright position.
In order to make these movements of the figure quite uniform and to prevent
jerks or vibration during the movement, there is provided a spring 20 secured at
one end to the bracket 15 and the other end connected to the band 17, said spring
controlling the whole movement of the figure. In the position of the figure shown
in Fig. 1 the spring 20 is stressed.
The closing of the two figures 21 of the figure and the raising of the lower
arms 24 connected to the upper arms 22 by a hinge 23 is effected as already stated
by means of the cam 6 on the main shaft 3.
This cam 6 operates a roller 25 rotatably supported on the free end of a lever 28
pivoted at 26 on the frame 1 and guided in a fork 27.
The lever 28 is continued beyond the roller 25 and forms there an upwardly
directed angle-piece 29 the free side 30 of which latter carries an upwardly extend-
ing rod 31.
The upper end of the rod 31 is provided with an eye 32 to which is secured some
flexible coupling, preferably a gut string 33.
This string 33 is guided in a lug 11ª secured to the spindle 11 and engages with
its upper end with a bifurcated intermediate link 34 (Fig. 6).
The two upwardly directed branches 35 of the link 34 carry at their free ends
screw bolts 36 which can be adjusted by means of thumb nuts and the upper
ends 37 of which are formed into lugs or eyes.
To these eyes 37 is secured a flexible band or the like 38 connected to a
spring 39 secured to the body of the figure.
The spring 39 by means of the rod 31, cord 33, intermediate link 34 and the
band 38 causes the roller 25 to be always held applied against the inner face of the
cam 6 (Fig. 1).
From the lugs 37 cords 42, are guided over guide rollers 40 and 41 secured to
the framework of the figure to links 44 (Fig. 1) provided with eyes 43, said
links 44 engaging with the short sides 45 of the fingers 21 made in the form of
angle pieces and pivotted at 40. With each eye 43 engages a spring 43" said
springs having a tendency to hold the fingers 21 always in the open position
as shown in Fig. 1.
The raising of the upper arm 22 and thus the raising of the lower arm 24 with
its fingers 21 closed is effected during the turning and straightening of the figure
by means of the cam 7.
This cam acts on a roller 47 mounted on the free end of a lever 50 pivoted at 48
on the frame 1 and guided in a fork 49.
The free end of this lever 50 is formed in the same way as the lever 28 into an
upwardly projecting angle piece 51 the horizontal side 52 of which carries a rod 54
bent at the top to form an eye 53 (Fig. 1).
The rod 54 is connected to a rod 56 by means of a spring hand 55 or the like
guided over a cross rod 10 the rod 56 being connected to a lever 57.

page_text: The lever 57 is secured to a spindle 58 (Figs. 1 and 6) passing through the
figure in the direction of its width and rotatably supported in the shoulders and
secured to the upper arms.
The upper arms 22 are guided in the shoulder sockets 60 of the figure and are
raised when the rod 54 is depressed by the roller 47 or the cam 7.
The return of the upper arms 22 into their lowered position (Fig. 1) takes place
by reason of their weight the roller 47 sliding along the curved face of the rotating
cam 7.
Together with the raising or lowering of the upper arms 22 takes place the
raising or bending of the head.
For this purpose the head is provided at 61 with a link 62 engaging with a
lever 63 mounted on the transverse spindle 58. When the latter is turned the
lever 63 raises or lowers the head pivoted on the hinge pin 64 (Figs. 1 and 6).
The device for supporting the articles to be exhibited or to be taken up by the
figure is constituted in the construction described by a table 66 secured to a vertical
spindle 65 and provided with a suitable number of brackets 68 capable of being
moved upwards about their hinges 67.
On these brackets 68 are arranged the articles 69 to be exhibited in such manner
that when the corresponding bracket is raised they are brought into the position
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 between the open thumb and fingers of the
figure.
The raising of the corresponding bracket 68 or the corresponding article 69 at
the proper moment is effected by means of the following device.
The bracket 68 to be raised is engaged from underneath by a roller 70 mounted
on the free upwardly bent end of a bell crank lever 72 pivotted at 71 on the
frame 1.
The other end 73 of this bell crank lever 72 is arranged loosely between the
branches of a fork 74 which forms the upper free end of a lever 76 which is
pivotted at 75 on the frame 1 so as to be adapted to swing vertically.
The lower end of this lever 76 is situated in a fork 77 of a bar 78 horizontally
movable on the frame 1.
The other end of the bar 78 carries a roller 79 (Fig. 4) which is operated by the
cam 80 on the main shaft 3 and a spring 81.
The spring 81 maintains the roller 79 or the bar 78 constantly applied against
the cam 80 so that the lever 76 and thus the bell crank lever 72 are brought at a
suitable moment into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and thus
raise the bracket 68 (Figs. 1, 4, 7 and 9).
To cause the articles 69 on the brackets 68 to be successively taken up by the
figure held up and exhibited the table 66 is made rotatable in such manner that
it is stopped each time that a new bracket 68 is brought under the lowered hands of
the figure.
This stoppage of the table 66 is effected by means of a ratchet wheel 82
secured to the vertical rotating spindle 65 of the table, 66, said wheel having as
many intervals 83 between its teeth as there are brackets on the table.
With these ratchet wheel intervals 83 engages the free end of a rod 84 which is
arranged on the frame 1 so as to be horizontally movable (Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 10).
The other end of this rod 84 carries a roller 85 which is acted upon by a cam 86
secured to the main shaft 3 and always held in contact with the cam by means of a
spring 87 acting on the rod 84.
If the table 66 is to be turned the rod 84 leaves the corresponding tooth interval
83 and springs into the next following recess.
The turning of the table 66 at the proper moment is effected by means of a
ratchet wheel 88 secured to its spindle 65 said wheel 88 being arranged
immediately under the ratchet wheel 82 and having as many teeth as there are
tooth intervals in the ratchet wheel 82 or which is the same thing brackets on the
table.
The movement of the wheel 88 is caused by a pawl 89 pivotted to the free end

page_text: of a lever 90 and held in engagement with the wheel 88 by means of a spring 91
secured to said lever 90.
The lover 90 is pivotted to the frame 1 at 92 and is held constantly applied by
means of a spring 93 against a roller 94 which is mounted on the free end of a
rod 95.
This rod 95 is supported and guided in the frame 1 at 96 and 97 in such manner
as to be longitudinally movable and has at its other end a roller 98 operated by
the cam 99 on the main shaft 3 (Figs. 4, 8, and 11).
As the spring 93 acting on the lever 90 constantly presses the rod 95 and
consequently the roller 98 against the cam 99 the turning of this latter will cause
the rod 95 and consequently the lever 90 to move in such way that the pawl 89
moves the wheel 88 at the proper monient to the extent of one tooth whereby
the table 66 is moved so that another bracket comes under the hands of the
figure.
The whole working of the figure described is as follows:-If the figure and its
mechanism are in the position shown in full lines and the main shaft 3 is turned
by means of the gear 45, in the direction indicated by the arrow II (Fig. 1) the
following movement will occur.
Owing first to the projecting portion of the cam 80 acting on the rod 76 the
bracket 68 will be raised (Fig. 1 dotted lines) and thus the article 69 placed on said:
bracket will be brought between the open fingers of the figure.
Meanwhile the cam 6 has come into the position in which its downwardly
inclined portion becomes operative whereby the roller 25 moves downwards. This
roller draws down the rod 31 which by means of the link 33 intermediate
member 34 and cord 42 with links 44, closes the fingers 21 of the figure.
During the time that the brackets 68 again returns into its original position the
movement of the rod 31 causes the lower arms 24 pivotted about the pins 23 to be
raised whereupon its engagement with the descending portion of the cam 7 causes
the rod 54 to be drawn down said rod causing the shaft 58 to turn to a certain
extent by means of the spring band 55 rod 56 and lever 57 and consequently
raises the head and the upper arms 22 with the lower arms already raised and
hands grasping the article to be exhibited.
At the same time the part 13 has operated the lever 14, and thus caused the
figure to straighten itself by means of the spring 20 and rod 18 and to turn partly
round in which position the figure remains until the downwardly inclined part of
the cams 6 and 7 come into operation and the part 12 which in the meantime
move upward comes into engagement whereupon the figure returns into its original
position shown in Fig. 1 the arms returning into the position shown the fingers 21
opening and letting the article 69 drop onto its bracket 68.
As now another article is to be seized by the hand of the figure held up and
exhibited the table 66 must turn so as to bring the next bracket into position. As
however the hands are in the way the lower arms 24 are again slightly raised in
the manner described until the next bracket and article come under the hands of
the figure.
This movement corresponds to the natural movement of a person moving articles
from one place to another.
During the rotation of the table 66 the rod 84 and the ratchet wheel 82 and the
ratchet wheel 88 driven by the rod 95 with the lever 90 and pawl 89 become
operative.
When the next bracket 68 with its article 69 has arrived into its new position the
table stopped and the lower arms again lowered the whole operation is repeated.
The device for supporting different articles to be exhibited may have the shape
of a table wheel box or any other suitable device and any desired number of articles
may be placed on it or attached to it.
The figure may have a comical dress or one to correspond with the articles shown.
It may represent a shop girl a circus girl a bar maid or any other character. If the
figure is in the form of an animal it may have a natural coat or be clothed in any

page_text: lesired manner. Or the figures may have human forms with animal's heads or
ice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
nd in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
laim is :-
1. Apparatus for advertisement exhibition and similar purposes comprising a
igure in a slightly stooping posture which takes up in its hands articles supported
by a suitably operated device straightens itself and at the same time raising its
head and arms turns partly round holds up the article remains in this position for
a time and then returns into its original position repeating the same movements in
reverse order puts down the article exhibited slightly raises the lower arms in order
to take up the next article which has meanwhile arrived under its hands and to
exhibit it in the same manner and means for effecting the various movements of the
figure substantially as described.
2. In apparatus of the character described a main shaft 3 and its cams and arms
for effecting all the movements of the figure and also the movement of the device
supporting the articles to be exhibited substantially as described.
3. Means for causing the movement of the lower arms (24) and the fingers (21)
comprising a cam 6 on the main shaft raising and lowering a lever operating a
rod (31) connected by means of a cord or the like with an intermediate forked
link (34) controlled by a spring & cords engaging with said link and connected
by links (44) with the fingers (21) of the figure having the shape of bell crank
levers and normally held open by springs substantially as described.
4. Means for effecting the movement of the upper arms (22) of the figure com-
prising a cam 7 shaft 3 a lever 50 rod 54 spring band 55 and a link 51 operating
a lever secured to a transverse spindle rotatably supported in the shoulders of the
figure said spindle having keyed to it the upper arms 22 guided in sockets 60
substantially as described.
5. Means for effecting the partial rotation of the figure comprising two
guides (12, 13) arranged at an angle of 180° relatively to one another on the main
shaft 3 and adapted to act on a lever 14 mounted on a vertical spindle supporting
the body or framework of the figure said spindle being provided at the top with a
transverse rod 10 movably connected at both its ends with the lower part of the
body of the figure and a rod 18 connecting the lower part of the body to a frame
substantially as described.
6. In a figure of the character described the arrangement of a spring 20
secured to the frame 1 and connected to the body of the figure for the purpose of
controlling the movements of the figure and rendering them uniform and steady
substantially as described.
7. Means for effecting the movement of the head of the figure comprising a
lever (63) mounted on a transverse spindle (58) and connected by means of a
link (62) with the pivotted head of the figure substantially as described.
8.
A construction of the device for supporting the articles to be exhibited
comprising a rotatable table automatically stopping intermittently and provided
with vertically movable brackets for supporting the articles substantially as
described.
9. Means for effecting the raising of the brackets supporting the articles to be
exhibited comprising a spring controlled rod (78) operated by means of a cam on
the main shaft and having a bifurcated end engaging with the lower ends of a
pivotted lever (76) the upper bifurcated end of which acts on a bell crank lever 72
the free end of which is bent upwards and engages with the under side of the
bracket above it substantially as described.
10. Means for effecting the movement of the rotatable table comprising on the
main shaft a cam operating a rod (95) engaging with a pivotted lever provided
with a pawl (98) operating a ratchet wheel mounted on a vertical spindle on the
table the number of teeth of the wheel being the same as the number of the

page_text: brackets of the table and a second ratchet wheel (82) with which engages a spring
controlled pawl (84) operated from a cam on the main shaft substantially as
described.
11. The combination and arrangement of *parts constituting the complete
apparatus for advertisement exhibition and similar purposes substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DL 10h Joy of Manch 1808
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.