Improvements in and relating to Indicators for Communicating with the Drivers of Cabs, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
COMIUMIN DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Indicators for Communicating
with the Drivers of Cabs, and other Vehicles.
I, EVELYN LEONORA PEYER, of 74, Loughborough Park, Brixton, London, S.W.,
Spinster, 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 a new or improved indicating or signalling device for
hansom cabs and other vehicles, and has for its object to provide a device by means
of which the occupant or occupants of a hansom cab or other vehicle can readily
indicate to the driver the direction that is to be taken and when to stop. Heretofore
great inconvenience was experienced by the occupants of cabs when they wished to
acquaint the drivers when to stop or in which direction to proceed, while the
vehicles were in motion, and the primary object of the present invention is to remove
these difficulties and inconveniences, and also to supersede the old "check-string
arrangement heretofore used in connection with broughams and similar vehicles.
In order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings wherein :-
"
Fig. 1, is a plan view of the roof of a hansom cab with my device shewn applied
thereto.
Fig. 2, an elevational view of the device.
Fig. 3, is a side elevational view of a portion of the device to illustrate its action,
while,
Fig. 4, is a view of a detail of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several figures, a is a suitably shaped base, from which rise
standards b, carrying a horizontal fixed spindle c. Loosely mounted upon this
spindle are a number of arms def, having each connected to one of its ends a cord or
its equivalent g, which passes down through the roof of the vehicle. The ends of
these cords or their equivalent g are provided with knobs or the like g', and such
cords may conveniently be held by hooks i suitably situated within the vehicle.
Although I have shewn three arms in the drawings, it will be understood that I may
employ any suitable number.
The front ends of the arms aforesaid, are adapted to normally rest upon gongs or
equivalent sounding devices j, provided upon the base a, such gongs, for instance,
being differently intoned so that when they are struck by the respective arms, they
may emit distinctive notes, the meanings of which will be readily understood by the
driver in the dark, or when it is otherwise impossible to see the arms def clearly.
The said arms may have suitable indications upon them, as for instance, the
arm & may have "right" displayed upon it, e carrying the word "stop" and f the
word "left," the uses of which are obvious and require no explanation.
Flat springs or their equivalent are provided for the purpose of returning the
arms efg to their normal positions when the pull upon the cords necessary to
operate such arms, is released.

page_text: It will readily be understood that the invention is capable, with very small
modification, of being applied to four-wheeled cabs, broughams, and other vehicles,
as well as to hansom cabs.
Tablets on which are displayed suitable directions, may be fixed to the interior
of the vehicle in a position or positions to allow them to be conveniently seen by
the passengers.
Although I have shewn and described the invention as consisting of one device
provided with three signalling or indicating arms, may, if desirable, provide two
of the devices, one at the left and the other at the right-hand side of the vehicle,
and provide such devices with any suitable number of signalling or indicating arms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
CLAIMS.
1. The new or improved indicating or signalling device for hansom cabs and
other vehicles, consisting in a number of arms loosely mounted upon a fixed spindle,
such arms having suitable indications displayed upon them, one end of each of said
arms being adapted to come in contact with sounding devices, and the other ends
having operating cords attached to them, all arranged, combined, and operating,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In indicating or signalling devices for vehicles, the base a having uprights b
carrying a fixed spindle c on which are loosely mounted arms d e f having each
attached to one end actuating cords y, said arms having returning springs k; in
combination with gougs j, or equivalent sounding devices fixed to the said base,
substantially as described and as illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of December 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.