Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Goods and other Objects.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Goods and other Objects.
1, WILLIAM HOWELS GULLIFORD, of 2, Upper Bedford Place, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Fruit Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus or arrangements for the display of goods or
other objects in a better manner and in greater numbers than has heretofore
been accomplished. The invention is applicable for shops, bazaars, exhibitions,
advertising and general business or other purposes and is effected by causing the
goods or objects to be moved or carried by means of revolving shelves, rods bars
or the like and may be carried out in the following manner.
By means of suitable standards brackets or other supports I set up two pairs of
pulleys or wheels at the required distance apart facing each other, also at a suitable
distance below these in a vertical plane with them I set another two pairs of
pulleys or wheels with an endless chain or band which runs over each pair of the
top and bottom pulleys or wheels. Attached to and connecting these endless chains
or bands at right angles to them and at proper distances apart, are rods bars tubes
or the like forming a ladder-like construction upon which the goods or objects to be
displayed are carried by either directly or by the intervention of trays, shelves
suspenders or other suitable means.
The pulleys or wheels which actuate the endless chains and rods are connected
to any available or suitable motive power and when they are so put in motion the
goods or objects placed on or suspended to the rods are successively moved into
review or consecutively displayed.
It will be seen that my invention is capable of various adaptations and modifi-
cations, amongst which may be named, multiplying the number and manner of
setting of the endless bands or chains and the rods or bars, also having only one
wheel or pulley at the top and bottom on each side instead of having pairs;
dispensing with the use of the bottom wheels or pulleys; using suitable wire or
other rope or shelves with end centres in the place of the rods or bars.
Further modifications may be made in multiplying several sets of apparatus in
order to form an extended line. In making a set with very long bars or rods with
pulleys or wheels intermediate of and additional to those at each end of the bars
or rods. In arranging the sets to form a display at various angles as in the bay of
a window or building. In arranging them into a polygonal form and into a
polygonal pyramidal form, in which latter case the tiers could be formed either by
means of separate sets of apparatus, or the endless chain or band might be arranged
so as to work the rods into a pyramidal shape. The invention is also adaptable
for a revolving motion of the rods horizontally or at any other angle as well as
vertically.
Dated this 28th day of July 1890.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exhibiting Goods and other Objects.
I, WILLIAM HOWELS GULLIFORD, of 2, Upper Bedford Place, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Fruit Salesman, 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 or arrangements for the display of goods or

page_text: other objects in a better manner and in greater numbers than has heretofore been
accomplished. The invention is applicable for shops, bazaars, exhibitions,
advertising and general business or other purposes and is effected by causing the
goods or objects to be moved or carried by means of revolving shelves, rods, bars
or the like and may be carried out in the following manner.
By means of suitable standards, brackets or other supports I set up two pairs of
pulleys or wheels at the required distance apart facing each other, also at a suitable
distance below these in a vertical plane with them I set another two pairs of
pulleys or wheels with an endless chain or band which runs over each pair of the
top and bottom pulleys or wheels. Attached to and connecting these endless
chains or bands at right angles to them and at proper distances apart are rods,
bars, tubes or the like forming a ladder-like construction upon which the goods or
objects to be displayed are carried by either directly or by the intervention of
trays, shelves, suspenders or other suitable means.
The pulleys or wheels which actuate the endless chains and rods are connected
to any available or suitable motor and when they are so put in motion the goods or
objects placed on or suspended from the rods are successively moved into review or
consecutively displayed.
It will be seen that my invention is capable of various adaptations and modifi-
cations, amongst which may be named, multiplying the number and manner of
setting of the endless bands, or chains and the rods or bars, also having only one
wheel or pulley at the top and bottom on each side instead of having pairs;
dispensing with the use of the bottom wheels or pulleys; using suitable wire or
other rope or shelves with end centres in the place of the rods or bars.
Further modifications may be made in multiplying several sets of apparatus in
order to form an extended line. In making a set with very long bars or rods with
pulleys or wheels intermediate of and additional to those at each end of the bars.
or rods. In arranging the sets to form a display at various angles as in the bay of
a window or building. In arranging them into a polygonal form and into a
polygonal pyramidal form, in which latter case the tiers could be formed either by
means of separate sets of apparatus, or the endless chain or band might be arranged
so as to work the rods into a pyramidal shape. The invention is also adaptable for
a revolving motion of the rods horizontally or at any other angle as well as
vertically.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. is a front elevation of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a similar apparatus but modified in form.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
A represents any suitable frame connected by tie rods B or other suitable
device with a similar frame A at the other end of the apparatus. C are two or
more shafts of which four are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and eight in Fig. 3; each of
these shafts carries one or more pulleys D at each end round which passes a chain,
band or equivalent E carrying rods F extending across the apparatus from chain to
chain, and upon which are hung brackets G carrying shelves or equivalent H
which also extend either across the whole machine or across that portion of it at
which it is intended to expose the articles for exhibition. In Fig. 1, represents
the frame of the window before which the goods are to be exposed. One or more
of the shafts C carry pulleys or the like J, by which the shaft can be driven.
I
In operation the shafts C being revolved by independent driving power or
through the medium of the chains or equivalent E the rods F carrying the
brackets and shelves G and H are caused to travel upwards upon one side of the
apparatus and downwards upon the other so that the goods or articles displayed
upon the shelves are successively brought into view. The arrangement it will be
seen is such that it is immaterial whether the chains E are travelling in a horizontal
vertical or intermediate direction as the shelves being pivotted to the rod F, which

page_text: is preferred, or the rods F being pivotted in the chains E always assume a
horizontal position, without respect to the direction of movement of the chains.
In Fig. 3 the apparatus is arranged to exhibit the goods in various spaces or
sections, thus section K is at one level, section L at another and section Mat, yet
another, the shafts and pulleys C and D being arranged so as to impart the
necessary contour to the general arrangement of shelves, the back section N is
shown as one long vertical section, but can be modified as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for exhibiting goods the combination with one or more
travelling chains or bands such as E of cross rods such as F from which hang
shelves H so arranged as to maintain their horizontal position throughout the
whole course of their travel substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus for exhibiting goods the combination with one or more
travelling chains or bands such as E carrying hanging shelves such as H the said
chains passing round top and bottom rollers D of additional or supplementary
rollers for the purpose of changing the direction of movement or position of
the travelling bands and shelves substantially as described and illustrated in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus for exhibiting goods substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Tad thin 921 1' of Mach 1901
W. H. GULLIFORD.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.