improvements in means for Advertising.
Year: 1898

page_text: improvements in means for Advertising.
I, WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, Electrical Engineer, "The Duke of Hamilton,"
New End, Hampstead, N., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention consists in a novel form of displaying advertisements, I propose
using an ordinary hat or other form of head dress, that may suit my purpose.
The top or crown of the said hat or head dress, being hinged, can be instantly
raised from the horizontal to a vertical position by the action of a spring, at
the option of the wearer. The said top or crown of the hat consists of two trans-
parent surfaces containing the advertisement, a space being allowed between
them to admit the insertion of an incandesent lamp for night use.
August 011 1000
pens in means for Advertising.
I, WILLIAM FREDERICK SMITH, of The Duke of Hamilton, New End, Hamp-
stead, London, North, 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:-
My invention relates to a novel advertising device.
I construct a hat preferably in the form of the ordinary silk hat in general
wear having its top arranged to rise vertically on a hinge. On this top I inscribe
or otherwise produce the inscription, design, advertisement, or other device which
I wish to display. For use after dark I provide means for illuminating the
design or the like.
In order more clearly to set forth my invention and the manner of carrying the
same into effect I have represented in the accompanying drawings one method of
construction by way of example.
Figure 1 represents a view from above of the hat with the electrical connec-
tions indicated diagrammatically.
Figure 2 represents a section of the hat when closed, and
Figure 3 the same when open.
In these drawings A represents the body of the hat, and B the hinged top.
This top part is preferably formed double and of sufficient thickness to conveniently
hold electric incandescent lamps or other convenient lighting devices within it.
The top and bottom thereof are intended for the display of the device to be shewn,
[17

page_text: and the said device or inscription may conveniently be placed on both sides
thereof so as to be visible both to persons going towards the wearer, as well as
those behind him.
The raising of the top of the hat is conveniently effected by a cord D passing
over pulleys secured to the inside of the hat at convenient points as, shewn in
the drawings. The lower end of the cord terminates near the hand of the wearer,
and the other end is secured to a lever E attached to the hinged top of the hat
in such a manner that when the cord is drawn the lever E moves from the position
shewn in Figure 2 to that shewn in Figure 3, and thereby raises the top of the
hat from the horizontal to the vertical position. As soon as the part B assumes
the vertical position contact is made with the conducting wires from a battery
or other source of electrical energy, and the lamp or lamps F thereby caused to
become incandescent. As long, therefore, as the contacts are maintained these
lamps will continue to illuminate the advertising device in the part B, whilst as
soon as this part is released by slackening the cord D it will again fall down
into the horizontal position, the contacts will be separated and the current inter-
rupted, so that the lamps are no longer operative.
In the drawings I have shewn, diagrammatically these contacts and connections
to the battery, but I do not restrict myself to the precise device shewn
as the arrangement and location of the battery may be varied according to the
convenience of the operator. Thus for instance I may operate the lamps from a
secondary battery of any kind located in the interior of the hat itself, or carried
in the pocket of the operator, or otherwise as may be found convenient.
The material of which the hat is constructed may obviously also vary according
to requirements. For use in the ordinary way as an advertising device I prefer
to construct the hat itself to resemble in outward appearance an ordinary silk
hat, but having the top B of transparent or semi-transparent material, such as
tracing linen, celluloid, mica, or other convenient transparent or translucent
material. The bottom of the part B should obviously likewise be of similar
material.
The advertising devices may be painted on these transparent surfaces with
opaque colour, or the said surfaces may themselves be rendered opaque, and the
lettering or the like be transparent. Or I may introduce devices in various
colours, or I may have coloured lamps to produce shifting or variegated effects.
Finally, I may combine my advertising hat with devices for periodically shift-
ing or varying the nature of the announcement or device shewn in the manner
wellknown in connection with other advertising devices.
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:
1. In a hat, causing the top or crown thereof to rise on a hinge into an upright
position and display announcements or devices of any kind on the upper or the
under side or both of the said crown, substantially as described.
2. In combination, the hat A, the hinged crown B, the operating lever E, the
cord D), and means for illuminating the said crown B, substantially as described
and shewn.
3. The improved electrically illuminated advertising device in the form of a
hat with hinged crown, constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
1000
W. P. Thompson & Co.,
W. F. SMITH,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.