ARRANGEMENT OF CONTACTS.
Year: 1898

page_text: do nereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My improvements relate to monogramic designs of incandescent lamps or
indicators, described fully in Specification No. 17,806 of 97, and refer more par-
ticularly to
(a) A method of reducing the number of working contacts according to the
particular word or words represented.
(6) Means employed to automatically utilize such contacts to reproduce any or
many preconceived advertisements.
(c) Methods of distinguishing certain letters or parts of letters or signs.
ARRANGEMENT OF CONTACTS.
A monogramic design of lamps is arranged in the manner set forth in the afore
mentioned specification, and from such design a key is constructed showing the con-
tacts necessary for each letter of the alphabet.
A reduction of contacts for 'special' signs viz-signs reproducing fixed lettering,
is carried out as follows:-
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, represents a suitable monogramic design employing 49 lamps
or discs, and Fig. 4, Sheet 2 is the key to that particular design.
Column c' indicates the letters of the alphabet, '' number of contacts re-
quired for each letter, and 'a' number of lamps illuminated, '' shows the con-
tacts incorporating the lamps numbered to correspond to the positions shown in
Fig. 1, Sheet 1.
In line 'e' is shown the number of times cach lamp is used when reproducing the
alphabet, and in line 'f' will be seen the order of usage from minimum to
maximum.
In column 'c' will be seen the alphabetical letter it is desired to reproduce, and
under each numbered lamp a '+'is placed if that particular lamp is required, all
such +'s indicating .contacts.
For example the letter 'A' requires lamps-6 (9, 16, 29) 12, 21, 24, 36, 38, 49,-
and under each of these lamps is placed a '+.' If two or more lamps are shown
bracketed together, the one contact actuates the several lamps, the 49 lamps
requiring only 38 contacts.
Suppose it is required to reproduce in the following order, on the monogramic
design the letters "A, N, S, W, E, R, S," for the purpose of simplifying the
apparatus, reducing the number of contacts and consequently the cost the follow-
ing method is carried out.
From Fio 4 Sheet 2 the various lines onnosite the lottons & NC TIEDO

page_text: .
are lifted in their proper order, and arranged in the manner shown Fig. 5, Sheet 3.
Column indicates the letters and under n, p, r, s, t, u, w, x, there are no'+'
(contacts) these eight contacts are therefore eliminated-thirty remaining
Further reduction of contacts is carried out in the following manner. On Fig. 5
Sheet 3, it will be seen that contacts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, occur always and only, in
letters NWE R consequently all five can be placed under one contact (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Contacts 6 and 49 are similarly dealt with and placed as one contact (6, 49.)
In such manner cancellation is continued until we get as finality the arrange-
ment shown in Fig. 6 Sheet 3,-which indicates absolutely the minimum number
of contacts and minimum number of lamps necessary to reproduce the letters
"ANSWERS" according to the monogramic design Fig. 1, Sheet 1.
Fig. 6, Sheet 3, shows that 16 contacts (line 'd') must be arranged on the
switch board and 37 lamps (bracketed g') employed in the design, the position of
each lamp being clearly indicated by its representative number Fig. 2, Sheet 1,-
lamps or contacts that occur in every letter of a sign may be coupled direct to the
switch arm or lead-thus lamp 24 can be treated in this manner—thereby reducing
the contacts to 15.
Should it be desired to represent the prefix letter 'A' in different colored
lamps, or give it greater prominence than the remaining letters 'SWERS'
the means are carried out as follows:-
The contacts of 'N SWERS' are lifted from Fig. 4, Sheet 2, laid out as in
Fig. 5, Sheet 3, and further cancelled in the manner shown in Fig. 6, the letter 'A'
being arranged on the sign irrespective of the monogramic lamps, and placed
under one contact, as shown in Fig. 8, Sheet 1, and marked 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61,
71, 8, 9, 10, 111, the number of lamps being thereby increased to 10 colored, 32
white, total 42, and the contacts reduced to 1 for red and 12 for white,-total 13
contacts.
It will thus be seen that in any given sign (all other conditions) being equal) -
the greater the number of lamps employed the less the number of contacts, and
in some cases it may be advisable to add to the monogramic design complete, or
portions, of letters, represented by lamps not included in the monogranic design.
For universal" signs (those embracing the whole alphabet) the contacts are
arranged as in Fig. 4 Sheet 2-cancellation being already carried out.
APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING CONTACTS.
The required number of contacts are arranged in suitable row or rows, and
coupled up to their respective lamps, most contacts actuating several lamps.
The contacts are preferably made springy' and are of any suitable shape.
The contacts are made (circuits closed) by a revolving, disc or travelling band,
operated by any suitable motor, such discs may be constructed of cardboard, ebonite,
or other insulating medium, and have slots or holes punched or stamped out to
permit the contacts to make circuit with a metallic backing, or a metal disc having
teeth raised, or a slotted metal disc backed by an insulating material may be
employed.
The travelling band may be constructed in like manner to the discs, and the
discs or bands may travel under, over, or through the contacts, the contacts in
the latter case being arranged under and over the travelling portions.
A cast metal plate having raised projections is most suitable for a 'special'
sign, and the lighter construction embodying removable discs or bands is suitable
for 'universal' signs.
For the discs or bands, may be substituted a revolving band having removable
contact making devices, or a fixed revolving barrel having removable sleeves carry-
ing the necessary contact making devices.
DISTINGUISHING DETAILS.
To make the letters or signs more discernable, it is advantageous to include in
the monogramic design, a number of distinctive lamps (or discs) taking the form

page_text: of lamps of greater size, increased candle power, or special coloring these dis-
tinctions being employed to emphasize the salient points of the letters or signs.
For example the letter I would have a distinctive lamp top and bottom, the
letter S'would be better indicated by a distinctive lamp at its extreme ends.
Prominence may be given to prefix or other letters by employing lamps of
greater intensity, different size or color in the manner previously described per-
taining to the prefix letter of ANSWERS-instead of employing distinctive
lamps of a larger size-a group of several ordinary lamps may be utilized-the
centre one acting singly when required.
•
The methods and means described pertaining to incandescent lamps, are
applicable to indicator discs.
Dated this 9th day of March 1898
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Advertising by Incandescent Lamps or Indicators.
I, CHARLES RALEIGH, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical 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 improvements in connection with monogrammic designs
of incandescing electric lamps or indicators for use in advertising or signalling,
described in the Specification to my Patent No. 17,806 of 1897, such improvements
comprising (a) a method of reducing the number of working contacts according to
the particular word or words represented; (b) means for automatically utilizing
such contacts to reproduce any or many preconceived advertisements; and (c)
methods of distinguishing certain letters or parts of letters or signs.
The drawings referred to herein are those which accompanied my Provisional
Specification.
ARRANGEMENT OF CONTACTS.
A monogrammic design of lamps is arranged as described in my aforesaid prior
specification, and from such design a key is constructed showing the contacts
necessary for each letter of the alphabet.
The reduction of contacts for special signs, vit. :-signs reproducing fixed
lettering, is carried out as follows:-
Fig. 1 of the drawings represents a suitable monogrammic design wherein 49
lamps or discs are employed and Fig. 4 is the key to that particular design.
In Fig. 4, the vertical column e indicates the letters of the alphabet, the vertical
column 6 the number of contacts required for each letter and the vertical column a
the number of lamps illuminated in connection with each letter. The divided
space d shows in the horizontal lines the contacts incorporating the lamps; each
column being numbered to correspond with the positions of the several lamps
indicated in Fig. 1.
The horizontal line e ir licates under the column pertaining to each lamp the
number of times each separate lamp is used when reproducing the alphabet, and
in the horizontal line f is indicated the order of usage, from minimum to
maximum.
In column c will be seen the alphabetical letter it is desired to reproduce, and

page_text: under each numbered lamp a sign, which may be a +, is placed if that particular
lamp is required, each sign indicating a contact.
For example, in producing the letter "A," lamps No. 6, the coupled lamps
Nos. 9, 16, 29, No. 12, No. 21, No. 24, No. 36, No. 38 and No. 49 are required and
under each of these Nos. is placed a +. If two or more lamps are shown bracketed
together, the one contact actuates the several lamps, the 49 lamps requiring only 38
contacts.
Assuming the reproduction of the letters A, N, S, W, E, R, S on the mono-
grammic design be required, for the purpose of simplifying the apparatus, reducing
the number of contacts and consequently the cost, the following method is
applied:
From Fig. 4, the particulars contained in the several lines pertaining to the
letters A, N, S, W, E, R, S are taken in their proper order, and arranged in the
manner shown in Fig. 5. Upon reference to this fig. it will be seen that column c
indicates the letters; and that under columns n, p, r, s, t, u, w, there are no contact
signs +. These eight contacts are therefore eliminated, thirty contacts remaining.
Further reduction of contacts is carried out in the following manner:-On Fig. 5
the lamps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 occur always and only in letters N, W, E and R, consequently
these five lamps can be placed under one contact (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Contacts 6 and 49 are similarly dealt with and placed under one contact (6, 49).
In such manner cancellation is continued until we finally get the arrangement
shown in Fig. 6 which indicates absolutely the minimum number of contacts and
minimum number of lamps necessary to reproduce the letters A, N, S, W, E, R, S.
according to the monogrammic design illustrated in Fig. 1. According to the
method shown in Fig. 6, 16 contacts (line d) must be arranged on the switch-
board and 37 lamps (see the bracketed lines g) be employed in the design, the
position of each lamp being clearly indicated by its representative number taken
from Fig. 2.
Lamps or contacts that occur in every letter of a sign may be coupled direct to
the switch-arm or lead. Thus the lamp 24 can be treated in this manner, in
which case the number of contacts is reduced to 15.
Should it be desired to represent the prefix letter "A" in different coloured
lamps or give it greater prominence than the remaining letters N, S,
W, E, R, S, the following means are adopted :-The contacts of N, S, W, E, R, S
are taken from Fig. 4, laid out as in Fig. 5, and further cancelled in the manner
shown in Fig. 6, the letter "A" being arranged on the sign, irrespective of the
monogrammic arrangement of lamps, placed under one contact, as shown in Fig. 3,
and marked 11, 21 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 10, 11, the number of lamps being
thereby increased to 11 coloured, 32 white-total, 43. The contacts are reduced
to 1 for red and to 12 for white: -total 13 contacts.
It will thus be seen that in any given sign (all other conditions being equal),
the greater the number of lamps employed the smaller will be the number of con-
tacts, and in some cases it may be advisable to add complete letters or portions of
letters to be represented by lamps not included in the monogrammic design.
For "universal" signs-those embracing the whole alphabet-the contacts are
arranged as in Fig. 4; cancellation being already carried out.
APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING CONTACTS.
The required number of contacts are arranged in a suitable row or in suitable
rows and coupled up to their respective lamps, the contacts in most instances
actuating several lamps.
The contacts are preferably of a "springy" character and are of any suitable
construction.
The contacts are made (circuits closed) by a revolving disc or travelling band,
operated by any suitable motor. When discs are employed, they may be constructed
of cardboard, ebonite, or other non-conducting material and be provided with slots
or holes (which may be produced by punching or stamping) to permit the con-
The required number of contacts are arranged in a suitable row or in suitable
rows and coupled up to their respective lamps, the contacts in most instances
actuating several lamps.
The contacts are preferably of a "springy" character and are of any suitable
construction.
The contacts are made (circuits closed) by a revolving disc or travelling band,
operated by any suitable motor. When discs are employed, they may be constructed
of cardboard, ebonite, or other non-conducting material and be provided with slots
or holes (which may be produced by punching or stamping) to permit the con-

page_text: tacts to make circuit with a metallic backing, or a metal disc having raised teeth,
or a slotted metal disc backed by an insulating material may be employed.
The travelling band may be constructed in a similar manner to the discs, and
the discs or bands may travel under, over, or through the contacts; the contacts
in the latter case being arranged under and over the travelling portions.
A cast metal plate having raised projections is most suitable for a 'special'
sign, and the removeable discs or bands, being a lighter construction, are more
suitable for universal' signs.
Instead of the discs or bands, a revolving barrel having removeable contact-
making devices, or a fixed revolving barrel having removeable sleeves carrying
the necessary contact-making devices may be employed.
DISTINGUISHING DETAILS.
To render the letters or signs in clearer or more discernible outline it is
advantageous to include in the monogrammic design a number of distinctive
lamps (or indicator discs) taking the form of lamps of larger size, increased candle-
power, or special colouring, these distinctions being employed to emphasize the
salient points of the letters or signs.
For example, the letter "I" would have a distinctive lamp top and bottom, the
letter "S" would be better indicated by a distinctive lamp at its extreme ends.
Prominence may be given to prefix or other letters, by employing lamps of
greater intensity, of different size or color or in the manner previously described
pertaining to the prefix letters of "ANSWERS."
Instead of employing distinctive lamps of a larger size, a group of several
ordinary lamps may be utilized, the centre lamp of the group being arranged to
act singly when required. The methods and means described pertaining to incan-
descent lamps are applicable to indicator discs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In monogrammic designs for advertising or signalling, the herein described
method of cancelling and coupling up the contacts, consisting in eliminating all
occurring contacts or groups of contacts or those contacts which are common to
several letters pertaining to such design and coupling up those lumps which occur
in a given letter, substantially as described.
2. In monogrammic designs for advertising or signalling, wherein the various
letters or signs constituting universal' or 'fixed' media are depicted by incan-
descing electric lamps or by indicator discs, the method of cancelling and reducing
the number of working contacts, substantially as described.
3. In monogrammic designs for advertising or signalling, the herein described
means for establishing electrical contact or closing the circuit consisting in the
employment of travelling bands or of revolving discs having perforations therein or
raised portions thereon, whereby the contacts are permitted to close the circuit
at predetermined positions, substantially as described.
4. In monogrammic designs for advertising or signalling, the employment of a
revolving barrel having a removeable sleeve for carrying the contact devices,
substantially as specified.
5. In monogrammic designs for advertising or signalling, the employment of
distinctive lamps whereby prominence is given to certain portions of the design,
substantially as described.
Dated this on day of De
1000.
For the Applicant,
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.