Office Indicator and Receptacle for Cards, Letters, Messages, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Office Indicator and Receptacle for Cards, Letters, Messages,
and the like.
I, WESTON FULLERTON, of 49 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Insurance Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by Henry G. Klenze of Fourth Avenue
North, Great Falls, in the State of Montana, United States of America, Mining
Broker) 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 and improved office indicator and receptacle for
cards, letters, messages and the like.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of this nature which shall be
simple in construction, inexpensive and capable of being readily and easily
operated, and by means of which indication can be given as to the movements or
whereabouts of the person by whom the indicator is employed, while forming also
a letter box for letters, post and other cards, telegrams &c.
The invention comprises the novel features of construction, and also the detail
combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a front elevation.
--
Figure 2 is a similar view with the box or hinged frame open.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line x-x, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view of one of the ribbon rollers.
Referring to the drawing, A designates a box or frame, and a base-plate to
which said box is designed to be hinged or pivoted at one side, as at a¹, a
spring-catch a extending from the other side of plate a serving to hold said box
in position when closed. This base-plate a is designed to be attached to the
outside of a door, either rigidly or loosely, and to its front surface is connected a
card-receptacle 6 open at its upper end and for a short distance at one side, as
at 61, a front central cut-away portion 6³ permitting cards to be easily removed
from this receptacle. When the box A is closed a glass-covered sight-opening b
in one side thereof permits of ready inspection of the receptacle through the side
opening thereof. The cards are dropped into this receptacle through a slot 6 in
the top of box A. This slot is normally closed by a cover 6' hinged or pivoted to
base-plate a.
B is a pocket or holder for blank-cards, and the same is attached to the front
of box A at the lower end thereof. From this pocket or holder extend two curved
arms which serve to support a pencil. In the front of box A, near the upper end
thereof is a sight-opening D, and in rear thereof is a cross-bar d connected at its
ends to the sides of said box.
E, E, designate two rollers located within box A at the upper and lower ends
thereof, the ends of said rollers fitting in openings in the sides of said box. Upon
one end of each roller is a milled head e by which the rollers can be easily
turned. To each of these rollers is connected one end of a long indicating
ribbon F, which is wound on both of said rollers, the latter being provided_each
with a longitudinal slot through which the ends of the ribbon are passed. Upon
the front surface of this ribbon, which may be made of any suitable material,
are printed, or otherwise marked, suitable words, or words and figures, giving to
the person viewing the indicator information as to the whereabouts or movements
of another, as for instance, the sign "will return soon; ""at court house; at
dinner," etc. But it is obvious that there is no restriction as to the character and
"

page_text: variety of signs that can thus be included on the indicating ribbon. The latter is
unwound from one roller as it is wound on the other and being passed between the
front of the box and the cross-bar d is held taut and in place close up against the
front sight-opening.
The upper roller E is preferably made with one end threaded on which works
a binding nut f' by which the roller can be firmly locked after adjustment of the
indicating ribbon and thereby prevent small children from altering the indication
of the ribbon.
From what has been said it will be seen that I have produced an office indicator which
is extremely simple in construction and inexpensive, that blank-cards can be kept
conveniently at hand, which after being inscribed, can be deposited through the upper
slot into the card-receptacle of the base-plate, a view whereof can be had through
the side opening in said box without necessitating the opening of the latter. The
indicating ribbon being capable of easy operation the necessary and desired sign
can be readily brought to view at the front sight-opening of the box. It is obvious
that slight changes can be made in the construction of my improved indicator
without departing from the spirit of my invention, as, for instance, the box or
frame may be provided with a lock, in lieu of being held closed by a spring-catch,
or different means may be used for holding one of the rollers stationary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein-described improved indicator comprising the base-plate having a
card-receptacle secured thereto, the box or frame hinged or pivoted to said base-
plate for covering said card-receptacle and having an upper slot therein designed
to coincide with said card-receptacle when said box or frame is closed, and means
for locking said box or frame, substantially as set forth.
2. The herein-described improved indicator comprising the base-plate having a
card-receptacle secured thereto, the same being open at its top and a portion of one
side, and the box or frame hinged or pivoted to said base-plate and having a
slot in its top and a sight-opening in one side, said slot and sight-opening being
designed to coincide, respectively, with the top and open side of said card-receptacle
when the latter is covered by said box or frame, substantially as set forth.
3. The herein-described improved indicator comprising the base-plate, the box
or frame hinged thereto at one side thereof and having a front sight-opening, upper
and lower rollers located in said box or frame, means for binding one of said
rollers, and the indicating ribbon wound on said rollers and designed to be visible
at said sight-opening, substantially as set forth.
4. The herein-described improved indicator comprising the base-plate, the box
or frame hinged or pivoted thereto and having a front sight-opening, the upper
and lower rollers having each a slot, one of said rollers having a binding nut
thereon, and the indicating ribbon secured at its ends to said rollers, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
5. As an improved article of manufacture, the indicator herein-described com-
prising the base-plate having a card-receptacle secured thereto open at its upper
end and one side, the box or frame hinged to said base-plate and having a front
sight-opening, a slot in its top and a sight, opening in one side, the card-holder
attached to the front of said box or frame, the curved arms extending therefrom,
upper and lower rollers, the indicating ribbon wound on said rollers, and the
catch for holding said box or frame to said base-plate, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of November 1894.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.