Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Advertisements and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Advertisements and
the like.
We, JOHN THOMAS BIGGS, of 49 Waterloo Street, Leicester, Plumber and
Sanitary Engineer, ORSON WRIGHT, of Great Wigston, Builder, and OWEN
TILLEY, of 95 Guthlaxton Street, Leicester, Shoe Manufacturer, all in the
County of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for displaying advertisements and the like.
The said apparatus is chiefly intended to be combined with tables, counters, and
the like, but it may be used on walls for indoor or outdoor display, or in steam
boats, railway carriages, tram-cars, omnibuses, and the like.
The chief feature of the said invention relates to the provision in combination
with a suitable frame, of one two or more movable, preferably hinged, pieces or
shelves containing recesses or slides forming panels for receiving advertising cards
or tablets or the like, and a stationary glass cover for said frame through which
the tablets can be seen. When applied to a table or counter said glass cover forms
the table, or counter, top wholly or in part.
A further important feature of the said invention relates to the means for
supporting the pieces which receive the advertising cards or tablets or other
advertisements or the like in a manner that allows of the said cards or tablets or
other advertisements being readily removed and replaced by others when desired
without necessitating the removal of the glass cover.
In carrying the invention into effect in the preferred construction as applied for
example to a table, we provide a suitable frame of wood, metal, stone or other
material, to which is fixed in a suitable manner a thick sheet of glass to form the
table top. The edges of the glass may be exposed, in which case they will be
made smooth and preferably bevelled or rounded, or they may be enclosed in or
secured by suitable ornamental clips or mouldings. To the frame underneath the
glass we hinge a shelf or two or more shelves provided with divisions on their upper
surfaces or with recesses to receive the advertising cards, tablets or the like, and
we provide means such as hinged flaps at the opposite side for supporting the
shelves in a position pressed up against the glass. When the said flaps are turned
down they no longer support the shelves, and the latter then drop sufficiently to
admit of the advertisement cards or tablets or the like being removed. In general
it will be found desirable to provide openings in the edges of the frame through
which the cards or tablets or the like can be inserted and removed, and which
admit of the fingers being inserted to push down the flaps. When the cards or
tablets have been inserted or changed, the shelves are raised again and locked by
simply turning or raising the supporting flaps. Said flaps are preferably furnished
with locks to prevent tampering by unauthorized persons. In some cases in lieu of
the continuous flaps, separate supports may be provided at intervals.
Those portions of the shelves between the tablets which are visible may be
ornamented in any suitable manner to increase the attractiveness of the table.

page_text: Such a table is very suitable for restaurants, hotels, public houses, coffee houses,
and the like, as affording a very attractive, striking and effective mode of advertising.
The advertisements can be readily changed periodically or when required, and the
same being entirely under cover are effectually protected from dirt and dust and
from any liquid that might be spilled on the table. It is obvious that substantially
the same construction of frame with very slight modifications will be suitable for
wall advertisements, carriages and the like.
In some cases in lieu of hinging the shelves or receptacles for the advertisement
tablets or the like we provide for receiving them in guide ways formed in the frame
and for pressing them against the glass by eccentric cogs or cam-like pieces or
their equivalents formed on the supporting flaps. Said shelves in this construction
can be withdrawn entirely through an opening or openings in the sides or ends of
the frame, when the flaps are turned to the open position. The flaps may be
furnished with any suitable locking device to fasten the same and to prevent
tampering therewith.
In a modification of the invention we provide a stationary bed for receiving the
tablets and in such case we so construct the glass that it can be raised sufficiently
to allow the tablets to be inserted and removed. For example, we may connect the
glass top or the moulding thereof in which it is glazed to the bed by parallel links,
pivoted eccentrics or levers which admit of the glass being raised. When lowered,
the glass or its frame may be secured to the bed in any suitable manner.
In another modification of the invention a movable bed is provided for receiving
the cards or tablets, which bed may be lowered from the fixed glass top for the
insertion of the tablets and then raised to position by springs, revolving spindles,
toothed wheels or their equivalents.
The invention is adaptable of course to any shape of table or frame.
Dated this 16th dor of Naromber 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Advertisements and
the like.
We, JOHN THOMAS BIGGS of 49 Waterloo Street, Leicester, Plumber and
Sanitary Engineer, ORSON WRIGHT of Great Wigston Builder, and OWEN
TILLEY of 95 Guthlaxton Street, Leicester, Shoe Manufacturer, all in the
County of Leicester, 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 apparatus for displaying advertisements and the like.
The said apparatus is chiefly intended to be combined with tables, counters and
the like, but it may also be used on walls for indoor or outdoor display or in steam-
boats, railway carriages, tram-cars, omnibuses, theatres and other places of public
resort or entertainment.
The invention will be fully understood from the following description in reference
to the accompanying drawings in which,
}
Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a view of a table provided with our apparatus
for displaying advertisements.
Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof showing the glass cover in its raised
position.
:

page_text: Figure 3 is a detail view of a shelf showing the advertisement panels, tablets or
the like, in grooves or recesses therein.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the framing showing openings therein to give access
to the flaps to raise the shelf.
Figures 5 to 7 are sectional views of modifications of the invention hereinafter
fully described.
The chief feature of the invention consists in the combination with a suitable,
and by preference a wooden, framing A optionally supported upon legs B to form a
table, of one or more movable pieces or shelves C for receiving or supporting the
advertisements as hereinafter described.
By preference the framing may have connected thereto in any suitable manner a
central bar D, Fig. 2. stretching from end to end thereof and dividing the said
framing into two equal portions so that the shelves may be hinged thereto and let
down on either side thereof as shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.
The said shelf or shelves may be provided with recesses or grooves so that panels C¹
carrying the advertisements may slide in and out, or when the advertisements are
printed on cards or tablets the latter may take the place of the panels C¹.
It is obvious that a bar such as D may be located at one side of the framing so
that the shelf or shelves may be hinged thereto or at the side of the framing itself,
and when lowered may incline from one side to the opposite side of the framing.
This form of construction is particularly adapted to tables which are placed
close against a wall so that only one side thereof is accessible for sitting against in
which case the advertisements will always be easily read, but for a table which is
to stand away from a wall and of which both sides are accessible for sitting against
the use of a central bar D with shelves on each side thereof as shown in Figures 1
and 2 is preferable.
The framing before mentioned is surmounted by a plate glass cover E which
forms the top of the table and through which the advertisements can be seen.
This glass cover may have its edges exposed, in which case they would be
bevelled or rounded or it may be slid into grooves in a suitable moulding or
framing E which by preference may be hinged at one side to the framing A so as
When in its closed
to open as in Figure 2 to give access to the advertisements.
position the glass cover E may be secured against unauthorized opening by a lock A¹
in each end of the framing A.
The glass cover may be secured in the framing E¹ by any other suitable means.
The unconnected sides of the shelf or shelves C may each be supported by one
or more flaps C hinged internally to the side of the framing.
When the said flaps are in their elevated position as shown in the left hand
side of Figure 2 they support the shelves C so that the advertisements. are
pressed close against the underside of the glass cover E, but when the said
flaps are in their lowered position as indicated in the right hand portion of
Figure 2 the said shelves incline to the sides of the framing so that the panels
or advertising tablets C¹ may be removed.
If it be desired to make the glass cover E a stationary or non-removable one
or to remove or replace the panels or advertising tablets C₁ without raising the
glass cover, openings A2 are made in the sides of the framing so as to give access
to the hinged flaps C'.
These flaps when supporting the shelves C are at right angles to the openings
so that when it is desired to change advertisements the attendant passes his
fingers through the said openings and presses against the flaps thereby causing
them to fall as in Figure and the edge of the shelf C will also be lowered
opposite to the said openings so as to admit of the panels or advertisement
tablets C¹ being removed and inserted.
One, two or more openings A³ Figures 2 and 4 are made in the sheet iron bottom
under the framing A through which the attendant can pass his fingers and press
against the said Haps to raise them into the position before mentioned to support
the shelves C.

page_text: Any suitable, but preferably a self-locking lock A' may be employed to fasten
the flaps and secure them against being tampered with.
Those portions C' of the shelves (which in reality form the grooves or recesses
in which the panels C¹ slide) between the panels or tablets C₁ which are visible
may be ornamented in any suitable manner to increase the attractiveness of the
table.
Such a table is very suitable for restaurants, coffee houses and the like as affording
an attractive, striking and effective mode of advertising.
The advertisements can be readily changed periodically or when required and
the same being entirely under cover are effectually protected from dirt and dust
and from any liquid that might be spilled on the table.
It is obvious that substantially the same construction of frame with very slight
modifications will be suitable for wall advertisements, carriages and the like.
In the modification shown in Figure 5, A represents the framing to which is
fixed a preferably non-removable glass cover E.
One or more shelves C, grooved as before described for carrying advertisements,
instead of being hinged, merely rest upon a bar D which may be in the centre of
the framing as shown, or at one side thereof.
The shelves are received into guide ways F and are pressed close up to the
underside of the glass cover by cam like pieces or projections C or their equivalent
thereon, supported by similarly shaped projections C³× formed on the inner side of
one or more movable flaps C' movable preferably on a pivot G.
In the left hand side of Figure 5 the shelf is shown in its raised position close up
against the glass cover, in the opposite side the shelf is shown in its lowered
position opposite to one or more openings A in the tramework to admit of the
advertising panels or tablets only, being withdrawn and changed.
To raise the shelf the attendant passes his fingers through the openings A³ in
the bottom of the framing presses the shelf C upwardly and then closes the
flap Cso that the projection C** wedges against the projection C* and supports
the shelf.
The flaps may be locked in the closed position by any suitable means.
In Figure 5 the opening A' is made wide enough to allow the shelf or shelves
to be withdrawn when desired.
According to another modification of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 we
provide a stationary bed L which may be grooved or recessed for the reception of
advertising panels, tablets or the like.
To admit of the said advertisements being changed the glass cover E is con-
structed so that it can be elevated for this purpose.
Various mechanical contrivances may be employed for this purpose but a con-
venient method of effecting this result is by means of two levers H H¹ pivotted
at Hto the side of the framing A and in contact with anti-friction rollers J
movably connected to the frame or moulding E' in which the glass is fixed.
The two levers H H are united by a connecting rod K so that by taking hold
of the longer lever H and moving it on its centre the glass cover can be raised
either into the position indicated by the dotted lines to allow the advertisements
to be changed; or into the closed position as shown.
According to the modification shown in Figure 7 we may combine with the frame
either a fixed or a movable glass cover E and the bed L upon which the advertise-
ments are placed is supported upon cams L¹ or equivalent devices mounted on
shafts L' having bearings in the framing A, the said shafts L' being square at the
ends to receive a crank handle of any usual construction (not shown in the drawings)
for revolving the shafts to raise or lower the bed L.
To alter the advertisements the bed is lowered into the position shown in
Figure 7 opposite one or more openings A³ so that either the advertisements may
be inserted or removed or the bed entirely withdrawn.
Figure 7 shows a similar construction of glass cover E, advertisement carrying
bed L, framing A and openings A' therein, but for the purpose of raising and

page_text: Towering the bed to attend to the advertisements, one or more racks M are suitably
connected to each side of the bed or framing and in gear therewith are a similar
number of pinions M' carried on shafts M2 square in section at the ends to allow of
a crank handle being placed therein to give motion to the pinion and rack and
raise or lower the bed connected to the latter.
Openings A are made in the frame where necessary to allow the ends of the
racks to pass through when they are in their lowered position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner. the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, one
or more movable shelves grooved or recessed for the reception of advertising panels,.
cards, tablets or the like, and a removable glass cover for exposing the said
advertisements substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, one
or more movable shelves provided with panels or recesses for the reception of
advertising cards, tablets or the like, means for raising or lowering the said shelves
for inserting or removing the said advertisements and a removable glass cover for
exposing the said advertisements substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, a
glass cover, one or more movable shelves, one or more hinged or otherwise movable
supports for the said shelves, one or more openings in the said framing to allow of
the insertion or removal of the advertising cards, tablets or the like substantially in
the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a glass cover, a
framing, a central har therein having hinged or otherwise movably connected
thereto, two or more advertising shelves, movable supports for the said shelves and
openings in the said framing to give access to the said supports and allow the
advertisements to be changed without opening the glass cover substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, a
fixed or non-removable glass cover, one or more advertisement carrying shelves,
supporting bar and guide ways for the said shelves, one or more openings in the
framing to admit of the removal of the said shelves or advertisements, cams such
as C, C for fixing the said shelves in position substantially in the manner
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6: In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, a
fixed advertisement carrying bed, a movable glass cover and mechanism for raising
or lowering the said glass cover above and on to the said bed for the purpose
described.
7. In an apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing,
an advertisement carrying bed, a glass cover and a series of levers for raising or
lowering the said cover in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
8. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing, a
glass cover, a movable advertisement carrying bed and mechanism for raising the
said bed to the glass cover and for lowering it opposite to openings in the said
framing for the purpose described.
9. In apparatus for displaying advertisements the combination of a framing,
penings therein, a glass cover, a movable advertisement carrying bed, shafts and
cams thereon, or shafts, pinions thereon and racks for moving the said bed in the
manner and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
Irawings.

page_text: 10. The improved apparatus for displaying advertisements consisting of the
parts, constructed, arranged and operating substantially in the manner described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day or september 1894.
Witness:
E. NORTH LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers, Leicester..
J. T. BIGGS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.