Improvements in or connected with the Means of Obtaining Optical Effects, such as called "Living Pictures."
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or connected with the Means of Obtaining Optical
Effects, such as called "Living Pictures."
JULES HIPPOLYTE CORTILESY, of 83, Newman Street, County of Middlesex,
London, W., Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the means of obtaining optical effects such as are
called living pictures" by means of rapid change or transposition of one
picture instead of another, and the said invention has for its purpose to obtain
by easy means this rapid change or transposition of pictures, drawings, etc.
In carrying out my invention the plates or sheets of paper or of cardboard
or of any other material, which have received or are to receive pictures or
drawings by means of printing or by any other means, are bound one to another,
the first to the second, the second to the third, and so on so as to form a book
or gathering, and so that each plate or sheet can be turned over like the sheets
of a book. But such binding differs from ordinary binding in that the sides
of the plates or sheets where the binding is made do not range so as to present
a surface as in ordinary binding, but such plates or sheets are placed in gradun-
tion, the second either projects or is placed further back from the first, the
third either projects or is placed further back from the second, and so on so as
to present the appearance of stairs, ench plate or sheet representing a stair. The
purpose of such a disposition of plates or sheets is to allow the back or projecting
part of each plate or sheet to act as a lever and to enable the plate or sheet, to
which it belongs, or is part of, to balance over when pressure or traction is made
to bear upon such a projecting part. Thus the axis on which each plate or
sheet balances is a trifle distant from said plate or sheet border, while the same
axis corresponds or is attached to the very border of its next further back plate
or sheet, and in pulling, or in pressing upon, the most projecting part of the
plate or sheet, and which may be called the projecting part of the first plate or
sheet of the gathering or book, that first sheet will balance over, and if said
pressing or pulling be continued on the part mentioned of the first plate or
sheet, it will in turn force the second, or next, plate or sheet to balance over
and to place itself flat against the first plate or sheet, and so on, and in continu-
ing the pulling or pressing on the part mentioned of the first sheet or plate it
will force each successive plate or sheet to act in a similar manner, that is, to
balance over.
The contrary effect, that is, the successive return of each plate
or sheet to its former position is made by reversing the pressure or the pulling.
For convenience, a ring or some other suitable contrivance may, be affixed
at the back or most projecting part of the first sheet so as to facilitate the action
of pulling or of the handling, and suitable contrivances may be affixed or
attached to facilitate the holding of the book or gathering of plates, or sheets

page_text: and to give it an attractive appearance, and also a suitable contrivance may be
attached to regulate the movement of the plates or sheets.
Dated this Fourth day of June 1897.
Improvements in or connected with the Means of Obtaining Optical
Effects, such as called "Living Pictures."
I, JULES HIPPOLYTE CORTHESY, of 83, Newman Street, County of Middlesex,
London, W., Printer, 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 :-
.
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with means for obtain-
ing optical effects such as are called "living pictures, or kinetiscopic representa-
tions and the like by means of rapid change or transposition of one picture
for another or instead of another, and the said invention has for its purpose to
obtain by easy means this rapid change or transposition, in positively regulated
and regular manner and sequence, of the pictures, drawings, representations
or the like.
In carrying out my invention the plates or sheets of paper, or of cardboard,
or of any other material; which have received or are to receive pictures, drawings,
or representations (by means of printing or by any other means) are bound
together (by a band or by a series of pins) so that each plate or sheet can by
moving the carrying band, open or close the plates or sheets like those of a
book, but such binding differs from ordinary binding in that the sides of the
plates or sheets, where the attachment to the binding band is made, do not range
so as to present a flat or curved back surface of the edges, as in ordinary binding,
but such plates or sheets are placed in graduation or step by step successively
upon the binding band.
In this way the first of the plates or sheets is attached at its edge to the binding
band, the second either projects or goes further back from the first, and so on
with the third and each plate or sheet successively, so that the appearance of
the edges of the plates or sheets at the binding plane, may be likened to a flight
of stairs.
The purpose of such a disposition is to allow the back or rather the projecting
part of each plate or sheet to act as a lever, in combination with the binding,
and to enable the plate or sheet (each successively) to turn or balance over when
pressure or traction is brought to bear upon the attachment portion of the plate
or sheet and its binding-plane represented by the binding band.
Thus the axis on which each plate or sheet balances or turns is at some dis-
tance from its border whilst the same axis corresponds or is attached to the very
border of its next, further back, plate or sheet and in pulling or pressing upon the
projecting part of the plate or sheet of the "gathering," or book of plates or
sheets, the next succeeding sheet will balance over and by continuing the pulling
or pressure it will continue to turn or force the second or next plato or sheet to
balance or turn over (positively) and to place itself flat against the first, below
the next (third) plate or sheet and so on.
Thus the same or continued pulling or pressure on the first plate or sheet will
act on the next and each successive plate or sheet, at each time to expose the
next successive position carried on each successive plate or sheet to the view
of the observer.

page_text: For subsequent or contrary effect, the successive return of each plate or
sheet to its former place, is made by reversing the direction of the pressure or
pulling or forcing of the driving band or binding" for purpose of actuation
of the movement positively, and in regulated succession.
For convenience a ring or some other suitable contrivance may be affixed at
the back or some projecting part of the first or back sheet so as to facilitate the
handling and turning over of the leaves, plates, or sheets, either way, and other
suitable contrivances may be affixed for upholding the book or the "gathering"
of the set of plates or sheets by and along with the binding.
In order that the invention and the foregoing description may be well under-
stood there is annexed hereto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and the
same will be referred to in the following more particular description by figures
and letters of reference like letters referring to similar parts throughout.
Fig. 1, represents in face view a binding according to the invention.
Fig. 2, is a aide view.
Fig. 3, represents the first leaf or cover taken hold of by the thumb and finger
of the operator in order to successively pull down the picture and which exposes
the next succeeding one.
Fig. 4, is a side view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 represents the binding of the plates or sheets when about half
cperated the dotted lines indicating the last preceding sheet that has been
exposed. The dotted lines, of Figures 1, 2, and 5, indicate an extension of
the first sheet or plate of the binding attached to the binding band.
Fig. 6, and Fig. 7, respectively, in front and side view, indicate a modification
wherein a button a³, is attached to the operating first flap of the book of pictures,
the said stud being guided in a vertical slot a³, through the back half of the
cover.
Fig. 8, represents the position that the front operating flap a¹ will occupy
when the whole of the pictures have been successively exposed and shewn.
Fig. 9, represents in cross section a fitting according to this invention of the
plates or sheets mounted upon a continuous band, the same being enclosed in
à framing which may be fitted to an automatic machine, and to be operated from
any going part of the automatic coin freed machinery which may be most readily
available. The framing, in this Figure 9, is shewn fitted with a lens "z," and
with an electric light "y," so that from the lens the pictures, as successively
displayed, may be clearly observed.
a, represents the sheets or plates upon which the representation is delineated;
b, is a backing or mount;
c, is the binding band; upon which the plates or sheets are mounted as shown
and discribed;
a, is the first cover of the binding or gathering of the sheets and to which
the binding band c, is securely attached. Referring then to Figs. 1 to 8, the
thumb and finger of the operator are to grip the first sheet or plate a¹ attached
to the binding band c, and then by an upward and downward pressure or pull,
the plate a¹, will effect the exposure positively and regularly of the pictures
exposed by the plate or sheet that has been successively withdrawn or covered
to show the next succeeding one.
When the device is to be worked with a continuous binding band working
over a stretch-bar d, rotary or not, or other support and roller e, mounted in a
frame, as shown in Fig. 9, the motion of rotation is imparted to roller e, and
the successive plates or sheets will be exposed at a, to the observation, and the
other sheets will take position following rotation of cylinder e, whether they
are worked forward or backward.
As applied to an automatic machine the rotation of cylinder e, will be operated
by gearing for continuous representation, but an alternating motion may be
employed to work the same in either direction.
According to a further modification the roller e, may be dispensed with and

page_text: the band c, can be non-continuous and supported only on the bar d, or other
support, the two ends of the band being attached to two moving parts of a device
having imparted thereto a synchronous to and fro motion: for instance, the
two hands of an operator holding the two ends of band c, will be able to effect
this to and fro movement over the bar or support d.
Further, one of the oxtremities of the band may be attached to a spring cylin-
der or a weight which will return the band to its normal position of repose after
the pulling motion of the operator has been exercised.
It will be observed that throughout these constructions the turning axis
(positive or imaginary) is coincident with the plane of attachment of the sheet
or picture-plate to its carrier band c, in the successive step by step disposition
of said plates or sheets.
No particular description has been made here of the mere coverings of these
bound plates or sheets, but they may be made up with covers ornamented as
required, said covers being in the form of additional boards, sheets, envelopes,
cases or boxes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The improved means for obtaining the optical effects of rapidly chang-
ing pictures consisting of a graduated mounting or graduated binding of the
sheets or plates, carrying the representations, the said sheets or plates being
mounted upon a binding band and operating positively and successively to
expose each sequent picture as and for the purpose herein set forth
Secondly. The combination of a binding sheet with the plates or sheets of
representations all bound as a continuous band mounted over a rod (rotary ar
not) such as d (or other support) and a roller such as e, to which latter roller e,
motion of rotation is given whether from an operating part of an automatic
machine or by a winch handle or otherwise to impart a rotary motion backwards
or forwards as set forth.
Thirdly. I claim the combination of a slide button a, working in a guide
such as a, in order to operate the front plate a¹, of the book or covering of the
picture-plates or-sheets and the band c, whether operated by hand or by any
reciprocating mechanical device substantially as set forth.
and
Fourthly. The combination of the binding band c with sheets or plates a,
support d, with reciprocating parts of any going machinery, said binding band c,
being non-continuous and having imparted thereto a back and forth motion as
set forth
Duted S1st March 1890.
For the Applicant;
WALTER A. BARLOW,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Expert, 306, High Holborn, W.C.