Year: 1897

page_text: FREDERICK PERCY Cox, 24, Fern Grove, Liverpool, Clerk, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved advertising device in which I take a number
of wheels or discs and mount them so that they can be revolved on a horizontal
axis. I then, by means of a pulley, spur-wheel, or other suitable gearing cause
the wheels or discs to revolve simultaneously in any desired direction. By
arranging these wheels or discs in a pattern, name or device, I claim I am able
to produce many pleasing new and effective devices. I am aware that wheels
and discs have been mounted and revolved singly, and in the case of firework
displays they have been arranged in patterns and devices, but I do not know of
their being arranged to form names or advertising devices, and I claim my idea
of doing this to be both novel and effective. I take, in one instance, a disc com-
posed or made up of strips of colored glass or of prisms or beads radiating from
the axis of the disc, and then show a light through this disc or discs, which, when
the latter is revolved, will give a chameleon effect. 1 mount these discs on their
axes, and, by revolving, get a chromatic effect. These discs or wheels so mounted
are masked by the ground of some name or device, so that only that part of the
wheel or disc is seen which is not masked, and the name or device will show the
chromatic effect; or, I mount two of these wheels or discs on the same common
axis and by revolving them in opposite directions get an effect similar to the
Chromotrope" used in lantern displays. It is not at all necessary to my purpose
that these discs may be formed of clear glass, prisms or beads. Mirrors will, in
many cases, be used, and reflected light taken advantage of in place of light
transmitted through the discs or wheels.
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Th
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1 1007
I, FREDERICK PERCY Cox, of 24, Fern Grove, Liverpool, Clerk, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved advertising device.
An advertising device according to my invention consists of a number of wheels
or discs mounted upon axes and caused to revolve in rear of the letters, words,
or devices which form or are comprised in the name, word, or device which is
displayed or advertised. In some cases such wheels, or discs are transparent and
CDi 1

page_text: bear coloured and sometimes differently coloured patterns, bars, or devices. When
the discs or wheels are transparent I cause light to be transmitted through them
and through a perforated or masked sign, bearing words, or devices, in front of
them, from an illuminating medium such as electric, oil, or gas lights, disposed
in rear of such discs or wheels. Such discs or wheels may then be in duplicate
or in mutiple, arranged one behind the other, upon an axis common to all. Trans
parent wheels cr discs are formed in various ways. Thus a disc of clear glass
will have bars, segments, or devices, differently coloured, stained or painted there-
o11. Another disc may be built up of segments or pieces of stained or coloured
glass or other transparent material. Another disc is made up of strips of coloured
glass, or of prismns or beads of glass radiating from the axis of the disc. By
mounting such discs, and causing them to revolve by means of pulley, spur-wheel,
or other suitable gearing, behind perforated or masked letters, and transmitting
light therethrough, I am able to produce many new and pleasing effects. By
mounting two or more of such dises behind a letter or device, upon a common axis,
and causing such dises to revolve in different directions, or in the same direction
at different speeds, I present a chameleon or chromatic effect. In other modifi-
cations such wheels or discs are opaque and possess a patterned and reflective
surface. Such discs are caused to revolve behind block letters, light being projected
or thrown upon such letters and discs from the front. Instead of opaque discs I
sometimes employ opaque wheels, the spokes or bars of which are spirally fluted
or are wound round with threaded glass, or metallic beads, prisins, or their equiva-
lent. Two or more of these wheels are mounted upon a common axis and revolve
in different directions or at different speeds.
In the drawing hereto annexed, Figure 1 represents a portion of an advertising
device according to this invention, Figure 2 being a cross section thereof.
In Figures 1 and 2 a represents an opaque or masked front, in which the letter D
is cut or perforated. bb are two transparent discs of glass, having bars c c
painted thereon in different colours. It must, of course, be understood that such
bars of colour may be broader or more numerous than as illustrated. The disc b
is mounted upon a hollow axle d, and the disc upon a sleeved thereof. On
the sleeve and axle d are fixed spur wheels el e, respectively, by which the discs
are caused to rotate. The axle d is journalled in the bracket f. Behind the discs
an electric lamp g-or other illuminant-and a reflector h, are disposed. By
revolving the discs bin different directions, or at different speeds, an ever-chang-
ing and pleasing light effect is transmitted through the letters or devices which
are cut in the masked front a. In most cases two or more discs will act in con-
junction as illustrated, but in other cases single discs will be used. Separate letters
or devices will usually have a separate disc or group of discs, but sometimes one
disc or group of discs will serve several letters or devices. The mask a forms
the front of a case which contains the discs and illuminants.
Figure 3 illustrates a disc b on which the bars care curved. Two or more of
these discs may be arranged as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 illustrates a wheel b, the spokes or bars c of which bear a spiral
convolution or raised pattern. Formed of opaque material with a reflecting surface,
this wheel will be employed, alone or with others on a common axis, behind
opaque block letters, upon which light is thrown or projected. Instead of the
wheel ba circular mirror or reflecting disc, bearing devices or designs in relief,
may be employed behind block letters or devices upon which light is projected.
In a modification of the wheel b illustrated in Figure 4, the spokes care trans-
parent and are wound round with strings of beads or prisms of clear and coloured
glass or other transparent material. A modification of this wheel will consist in
forming the spokes of strips of coloured glass, or of beads or prisms threaded upon
wires. Another modification will consist of two discs of clear glass spaced apart
and closed in around their peripheries, the space between the discs being filled
with loose beads or prisms of plain and coloured glass.
By revolving two or more of the wheels described in the foregoing paragraph,

page_text: between an illuminant and a letter or device cut in a masked front, a chromatic
light effect is transmitted through such letter or device, produding an effect
similar to that of the "Chromotrope" used in lautern displays.
Figure 5 illustrates a transparent disc formed of differently coloured segments
of glass or other transparent material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An advertising device wheroin transparent discs or wheels, bearing colours,
beads, or prisms, are caused to revolve between un illuminating medium and
masked or perforated letters or devices, substantially as described.
2. An advertising device wherein opaque and reflecting discs or wheels, whose
surface, spokes, or bars, bear a pattern, are caused to rovolve behind letters or
devices upon which light is projected, substantially as described.
3. Advertising devices constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substan-
tially as herein described.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicant.