Improvements in Movable Advertising Signs for Trains, Tram-cars, Steam-boats, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
CUMI LEID DI BOLL
Improvements in Movable Advertising Signs for Trains, Tram-cars,
Steam-boats, and the like.
I, WILLIAM ROGERS SANFORD, of 369 Jefferson Avenue, in the City of
Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of America, Pattern Maker, 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 object of my invention is to provide a changeable or movable sign, in which
the words or designs thereon will from time to time be changed, and the same
relates more particularly to advertising signs adapted to be placed in railway-cars,
tram-cars, boats, and other vehicles, which signs are adapted to be operated and
moved by the natural jar or movement of the vehicle carrying the same.
The said invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, wherein similar letters of reference designate
like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in
which :-
Figure 1 represents a front view of a
sign embodying my invention, having a
part of the advertising-curtain removed to bring the operating mechanism to view,
and
Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical section on the line x-x of Fig. 1.
A designates a frame, in or on the upright ends of which are the bearings for
two parallel horizontal rollers C, C. B is an endless curtain running upon said
rollers. D is a support (represented in the form of a bracket) secured to one of
the upright sides of the frame A and projecting directly between the rollers within
From the end of this
the curtain B, between the front and back runs thereof.
bracket D is suspended a pendulum F, and between the said pendulum and the
upright sides of the frame to which the said bracket is secured a bearing is
provided in said bracket for a shaft N, on which are firmly secured a ratchet-
wheel E and a pulley K. From the pulley K a baud L runs around the lower
roller C, a groove being provided in the said roller for the band to run in without
interfering with the portion of the curtain which is on the said roller.
pulley K having its axis at right angles to the axis of the rollers C, C, the band L
cannot interfere with any other portion of the curtain. H is a lever having its
fulcrum in the bracket or support D and carrying at its upper end a pawl I,
engaging with the ratchet-wheel E, and being connected at its lower end by a
rod G with the pendulum F. The fulcrum of the lever H in the example
represented is the shaft N, the lever being fitted to the said shaft to swing
independently of the latter. J is a stop-pawl, for preventing the ratchet-wheel
and pulley from turning in the opposite direction to that in which the pawl I is
intended to turn it.
The
By the movement or jarring of the car or other vehicle in which the frame A
and its contained sign are placed, a swinging motion is given to the pendulum, and
by that means motion is given through the rod G and lever H to the pawl I,
which is thus caused to turn the ratchet-wheel and belt slowly, and thereby turn
the lower roller C, which moves the curtain. The actuating mechanism being all
within the curtain, it is thereby concealed from view, and, moreover, occupies no
extra space within the frame. Hence the apparatus is brought within the smallest
possible dimensions.
Although I have herein shown a device having an endless curtain, which revolves
around the two rollers C, C, indefinitely, it is evident that with but little change
in the construction, a curtain which is not endless may be first rolled upon one

page_text: roller and be unrolled therefrom upon the other by the action of the pendulum F,
that in some cases the bottom roller may be entirely omitted, and the belt
gearing L connected with the top roller, and that many other changes in the device
may be made without departing from the scope of my invention; and I do not
limit myself to the exact construction, combination, or arrangement of the various
parts of my improved advertising sign shown and described herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination with a movable curtain, of a roller connected with and
adapted to actuate the same when rotated, a swinging pendulum, a wheel adapted
to be rotated by the motion of the pendulum, and gearing connecting the wheel
with the roller actuating the curtain, substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination with a movable endless curtain, of a roller located within
and adapted to rotate the same when revolved, a swinging pendulum, a wheel
adapted to be rotated by the motion of the pendulum, and gearing connecting the
wheel with the roller, the arrangement being such that the swinging of the
pendulum causes the curtain to revolve, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a suitable frame, of a roller revolubly mounted therein,
an endless curtain mounted upon the roller so as to be rotated thereby, a swinging
pendulum supported by the frame, a wheel rotated by the motion of the pendulum,
and gearing connecting the wheel with the roller, the arrangement being such that
the swinging of the pendulum causes the curtain to revolve, substantially as shown
and described.
4. The combination with a movable endless curtain, of two rollers located within
and adapted to rotate the same when revolved, a swinging pendulum, a wheel
adapted to be rotated by the motion of the pendulum, and gearing connecting the
wheel with one of the rollers, the arrangement being such that the swinging of the
pendulum causes the curtain to revolve, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with a suitable frame, of two rollers revolubly mounted
therein, an endless curtain mounted upon the rollers so as to be rotated thereby, a
swinging pendulum supported by the frame, a wheel rotated by the motion of the
pendulum, and gearing connecting such wheel with one of the rollers so as to rotate
the same, substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination with a suitable frame, of two rollers revolubly mounted
therein, an endless curtain mounted upon the rollers so as to be rotated thereby, a
bracket supported by the frame and extending inward between the two rollers and
the two sides of the endless curtain, a swinging pendulum supported by the
bracket, a wheel rotated by the motion of the pendulum, and gearing connecting
such wheel with one of the rollers carrying the curtain, substantially as shown and
described.
7. The combination with a moving vehicle, of a sign formed upon a flexible
curtain adapted to be moved by the rotation of a roller carrying the same, a
swinging pendulum adapted to be moved by the swaying or jarring of the vehicle,
and gearing connected with the roller and with the pendulum, the construction and
arrangement being such that the swinging of the pendulum causes the curtain to
move, substantially as shown and described.
8. The combination with a moving vehicle, of a sign formed upon a flexible
curtain adapted to be moved by the rotation of a roller carrying the same, a
swinging pendulum adapted to be moved by the swaying or jarring of the vehicle,
a wheel adapted to be rotated by the movement of the pendulum, and gearing
connecting the wheel with the roller in such manner that the rotation of the wheel
causes the roller to revolve, the construction being such that the swinging of the
pendulum causes the curtain to move, substantially as shown and described.
9. The combination with a moving vehicle, of a sign formed upon a flexible
endless curtain adapted to be moved by the rotation of a roller carrying the same,

page_text: & swinging pendulum adapted to be moved by the swaying or jarring of the vehicle,
a wheel adapted to be rotated by the movement of the pendulum, and gearing
connecting the wheel with the roller in such manner that the rotation of the wheel
causes the roller to revolve, the construction being such that the swinging of the
pendulum causes the curtain to move, substantially as shown and described.
10. The combination, with an endless curtain and two rollers for carrying the
same and a frame for supporting said rollers, of a bracket attached to said frame
and projecting therefrom directly between said rollers, a pulley and attached
ratchet-wheel and a pendulum carried by said bracket, a pawl actuated by said
pendulum and engaging with the ratchet-wheel, and a band between the said
pulley and one of the rollers, said bracket, pulley, ratchet-wheel, pendulum, pawl,
and band being within the curtain, between the front and back runs thereof,
substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 11th dan of Ma 1902
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.