Improvements in and Means for the Production of Novel Optical Effects, applicable to Advertising Devices, Stage Purposes and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th July, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Means for the Production of Novel Optical
Effects, applicable to Advertising Devices, Stage Purposes and
the like.
We, ARTHUR JOSEPH PARSONS, of 10, Dunster Gardens, Brondesbury, London,
Electrical Engineer, and CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of 8A, Manchester Square,
London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
The object of our invention is to produce an apparent motion to the surface of
advertising signs and the like or other displayed surfaces either with or without
the aid of any mechanical moving parts.
One method of carrying our invention into effect is by means of wire gauze
muslin or other suitable material so woven or formed as to allow light to pass
therethrough.
Two pieces of such material may be placed a suitable distance one behind the
other and so arranged as to allow light from any convenient source to shine
through them towards the eye of the observer to whom the surface of the device
will then appear as though it were composed of a so-called watered" fabric-
that is to say an apparent light and shade will be distributed over its surface and
the light and shade will continually change their relative positions on the slightest
movement of the observer or of the device and thus an apparent motion is imparted
to the said surface.
The effect may be improved by causing coloured light to pass through the
device.
If desired we may only use one sheet of woven material and place behind it
a plain surface advantageously transparent or coloured or both on which lines
or squares or any other suitable pattern may be formed. The slightest movement
of the woven material or the pattern or both or the slightest movement on the
part of the observer when looking through the woven material onto the pattern
will cause an apparent motion to be imparted to the said pattern.
A sheet of glass or other material corrugated or formed so as to suitably
refract the light passing through it may be used in place of the woven material
in front of the aforesaid pattern.
This invention could be utilized in the production of novel theatrical effects or
advertisements and public announcements could be displayed in front of or on
the apparently moving surface.
An advertising sign constructed according to this invention could be slung up
or mounted in such a way as to have motion imparted to it by the movement of
the atmosphere.
Doted this 14th day of September 1898.

page_text: Improvements in and Means for the Production of Novel Optical
Effects, applicable to Advertising Devices, Stage Purposes and
the like.
We, ARTHUR JOSEPH PARSONS, of 10, Dunster Gardens, Brondesbury, London,
Electrical Engineer, and CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of SA, Manchester Square,
London, Electrical Engineer, 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 our invention is to produce an apparent motion to the surface of
advertising signs and the like or other displayed surfaces either with or without
the aid of any mechanical moving parts.
One method of carrying our invention into effect is by means of wire gauze
muslin or other suitable material (that is material having numerous interstices)
so woven or formed as to allow rays of light to pass therethrough.
<:
Two pieces of such material are placed advantageously in parallel planes a
suitable distance one behind the other and so arranged as to allow light from any
convenient source to pass through them towards the eye of the observer to whom
the device will then produce somewhat the appearance of a so-called watered"
fabric that is to say an apparent light and shade will be distributed over its
surface and the light and shade will continually change their relative positions
or appearances on the movement of the observer or of the device and thus an
apparent motion or changing optical effect is imparted by the said device.
The effect may be varied by causing colored light to pass through the device.
If desired one of the two surfaces may be arranged and adapted to be moved
with respect to the other; or both may be moved relatively to each other.
This invention may be utilised in the production of novel theatrical effects or
advertisements; and public announcements could be displayed in front of or on
the apparently moving surface.
An advertising sign constructed according to this invention could be swung
or mounted in such a way as to be swayed or to have motion imparted to it by the
movement of the atmosphere.
In the drawings hereunto annexed we have illustrated an example of carrying
the present invention into effect.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed according to the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 3-3 Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a local view of perforated sheet metal which may be used in some cases
in place of woven wire gauze shown in Fig. 1.
a is a frame of wood or other suitable material constructed in any suitable
manner.
bis sheet of wire gauze woven to any desired mesh say 80-mesh wire gauze.
c is another identical sheet or similar or other sheet of suitable woven material
these two sheets b and c being mounted and secured in any suitable manner
on opposite sides of the frame a so as to be held in parallel planes; any suitable
advertisement or notice etc. (word or words or device) may be arranged upon or
in front of one or both of these surfaces b and c and when same has been placed
in any suitable position in the light then as same is moved relatively to the eye 4
of the observer, or as the observer moves relatively to said device, thereby a novel
or striking optical effect is produced of an attractive character.
If desired perforated sheet metal such as shown in Fig. 4 may be used in place

page_text: of woven wire gauze especially when the device is to be arranged at a distance
from the observer as for instance when it is to be mounted on the top of a
building, or when the device is constructed on a large scale.
Small-sized devices constructed according to the present invention may as afore-
said have an advertisement or notice on each side b and c respectively for instance
for such purposes as hanging in a shop window or inside omnibuses so that
persons exterior of said shop or omnibus can see the advertisement etc. on the
outer side of said device without being able to see the back of the advertisement
on the inner side of said device and vice versa that is to say persons inside the
shop or omnibus etc. can see the advertisement on the inside face of said device
without the latter being affected by the advertisement etc. on the outside face.
We have found in practice that the intervening space between the two surfaces b
and may vary according to the closeness of the mesh or interstices and also
according to the distance from the observer at which the sign etc. is to be fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The herein described means for the production of novel optical effects for
advertising, stage, or other purposes, consisting of the arrangement and com-
bination of two sheets of wire gauze or perforated sheet metal in parallel planes
with an intervening space and having any suitable advertisement or notice acting
in conjunction therewith substantially in the manner herein before set forth.
2. The herein described means for the production of novel optical effects for
advertising, stage, or other purposes, consisting of the arrangement and com-
bination of two sheets of material having numerous interstices or perforations
and having any suitable advertisement or notice arranged to act in conjunction
therewith substantially in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
3. Advertising signs or devices constructed combined and arranged to act sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
תורית
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.