Improvements in Directory Apparatus for Affording Information in Public Places.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Directory Apparatus for Affording Information in
Public Places.
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
from abroad by John Francis Deeves (Designer) and Fannie Gauthreaux (Widow)
both of 85, Brainard Street, Andrè Ringgold Brousseau (Merchant) of 23 and 25
Chartres Street, John Grayson Byrd, Secretary of Home Insurance Company,
78 Camp Street, Henry Maspero, President of Traders Bank, Decatur and
Custom House Streets, Edwin Harrison Hyde, (Clerk) of Tchoupitoulus and
Greene Streets, Philip Thompson (Merchant) of 33, Tchoupitonlas Street, John
Barkley, of 35, St. Peter Street, and Paul Capdevielle (Lawyer) of 33, Carondelet
Street, all of New Orleans, in the Parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana,
United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an advertising or directory device or machine for
displaying and furnishing general information.
The invention more particularly consists in apparatus designed to be placed on
public thoroughfares and in prominent places in cities for the free use of the public
and containing a complete list of the residents of that city and their addresses
alphabetically arranged, complete lists of the business houses and streets, a city
map, list of different churches, fire alarm list, the position of railroad stations, and
other such information.
"
The apparatus is supported on a fixed post and it is made with an inner
revolving frame consisting of upper and lower discs which turn freely on the post
and are supported by collars. A circular bottom piece is affixed to the lower disc
and revolves with it on the post and has a number of downwardly-projecting
handles. The frame contains concentric series of spring rollers which may be
similar in construction to the ordinary spring curtain rollers and upon these rollers
are secured and wound bands of linen or other suitable material whose outer ends
are secured in metal strips or rods which are longer than the space between the
discs so that their ends will catch against the edges of the discs when the bands
are wound up on the rollers. To each metal strip is secured a flexible "pull
or tab which stands out from each strip in a vertical plane and may be formed of
either rubber or spring metal and has an eye or hole through its outer end. The
frame can carry any number of the rollers, and the linen bands carry the desired
information. The bands on the inner rollers may pass between vertical guide rods
which prevent one band, when pulled out, from rubbing against the adjacent
rollers. The rods also hold the discs together and cause them to revolve together.
Each metal strip has a letter or name, indicating the matter printed on its strip,
marked or painted upon its face so as to be readily seen from the outside through
a vertical slot in a stationary metal jacket, which encloses the frame and its
rollers. The top of this jacket is formed with a central opening and a collar,
while its lower end is open and the jacket is lowered down over the roller frame
until its lower end is just above the bottom when it is secured to the post by a
set screw passing through the collar. The slot in tlie jacket is of such size as to
permit one of the metal strips to pass freely through it, and it has an enlargement
at its centre.
When the metal jacket has been placed in position over the roller frame, it is
enclosed by a revolving casing formed of two heavy semi-cylinders of plate glass
which are brought together, to form a cylinder, by their vertical edges being fitted
into recessed binding strips or clamps which hold in position metallic rings at the

page_text: upper and lower ends of the cylinder. Through one of these clamping strips
passes a handle having a hooked inner end. The cylinder is suspended from its
upper end from a revolving roof-plate which is mounted, and turns freely, on a
collar on the post while the lower end of the glass cylinder extends down on the
inner side of an upwardly-extending flange of the bottom.
In operation, the person desiring any particular information turns the roller
frame by the knobs affixed to its bottom. By so doing, each metal strip is passed
in front of the slot of the stationary metal jacket allowing the operator to reach
the name or index upon it until the desired band is reached. As each strip
reaches the slot the outer end of its flexible " pullis freed from the pressure
against the inner side of the jacket and will project through the enlargement at
tlie centre of the slot. When the desired strip is brought to the slot, the handle
on the clamping strip is turned to cause its hooked inner end to engage with the
apertured end of the "pull or tab. If the outer cylinder of glass is then
revolved, the linen band will be pulled out and wound on the outside of the metal
jacket in the direction in which the glass cylinder is revolved, thereby clearly
displaying the information contained on the linen band. When the pressure on
the glass cylinder is released, the spring roller will automatically wind the linen
band up around it. The slo would, preferably, be provided with small anti-
friction rollers, to reduce friction and wear on the linen bands as they are drawn
out and in.
”ב
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Directory Apparatus for Affording Information in
Public Places.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from
abroad by John Francis Deeves (Designer) and Fannie Gauthreaux (Widow)
both of 85, Brainard Street, Andrè Ringgold Brousseau (Merchant) of 23 and 25,
Chartres Street, John Grayson Byrd, Secretary of Home Insurance Company,
78, Camp Street, Henry Maspero, President of Traders' Bank, Decatur and
Custom House Streets, Edwin Harrison Hyde (Clerk) of Tchoupitoulas and
Greene Streets, Philip Thompson (Merchant) of 33, Tchoupitoulas Street, John
Barkley, of 35, St. Peter's Street, and Paul Capdevielle (Lawyer) of 33, Carondelet
Street, all of New Orleans, in the Parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana,
United States of America) 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 advertising or directory device or
machine for displaying and furnishing general information which will be hereinafter
fully described and claimed.
The invention more particularly consists in a machine designed to be placed on
public thoroughfares and in prominent places in cities for the free use of the public,
and which will contain a complete list of the residents of that city and their
addresses, alphabetically arranged, complete lists of the business houses and streets,
city map, list of different churches, fire alarm list, the position of railroad stations,
and all other such information as may be needed by the enquirer, whether a
stranger or citizen.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation, and

page_text: Figure 2 is a horizontal section, on line 2—2 Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.
D is a stationary post on which the machine proper is mounted and supported.
The inner revolving frame of the machine consists of the upper and lower discs A. A
which turn freely on the post D, being supported by collars a a. A circular
bottom piece e is affixed to the lower disc A. and revolves with it on the post D.
having a number of downwardly-projecting handles d. In the circular discs A
are mounted the ends of a series of spring rollers B₁ which may be similar in
construction to the ordinary spring curtain rollers. Upon these rollers B' are
secured and wound bands B of linen or other suitable material and the outer ends
of these linen bands are secured in metal strips or rods C which are longer than
the space between the discs A, so that their ends will catch against the edges of
the discs when the bands B are wound up on the rollers B¹. To each metal strip C
is secured a flexible "pullor tab P which stands out from each strip in a vertical
plane and may be formed of either rubber or spring metal and has an eye or hole P
through its outer end. The frame A. A can carry any number of the rollers B¹
arranged around its circumference, as shewn, and upon the linen bands B is mounted
the desired information. The bands on the inner rollers may pass between vertical
guide rods X, X which prevent one band when pulled out from rubbing against
the adjacent rollers B. The rods X also hold the discs A together and cause
them to revolve together. The linen bands are at all times, when not in actual
use, wound upon their respective spring rollers. Each metal strip C has a letter
or name indicating the matter printed on its strip, marked or painted upon its face
so as to be readily seen from the outside through the slot M of the stationary
metallic cylindrical jacket N in which the frame A A with its rollers is enclosed.
The top of this jacket is formed with a central opening and a collar L while its
lower end is open, and the jacket is lowered down over the roller frame A A until
its lower end is just above the bottom e when it is secured to the post D by a set
screw passing through the collar L. This jacket N is formed at one side with a
vertical slot M of such size as to permit one of the metal strips C to pass freely
through it. The slot M is enlarged at its centre at V, as shewn. When the
metal jacket N has been placed in position over the roller frame, it is enclosed by
a revolving casing formed of two heavy semi-cylinders E, E, of plate glass which
are brought together to form a cylinder by their vertical edges being fitted into
recessed binding strips or clamps R, which are deeply recessed on both sides, as
shewn, and which hold in position metallic rings G G at the upper and lower ends
of the cylinder E, E. The cylinder E, E, is suspended from its upper end from
a revolving roof-plate which is mounted and turns freely on a collar on the
post D. The lower end of the glass cylinder extends down on the inner side of
an upwardly-extending flange el of the bottom. Through one of the clamping
strips R passes a handle S having a hooked inner end Y.
In operation, the person desiring any particular information, turns the roller
frame by the knobs d affixed to its bottom. By so doing, each metal strip C is
passed in front of the slot of the stationary metal jacket N allowing the
operator to read the name or index upon it until the desired band B is reached.
As each strip C reaches the slot M the outer end of its flexible pull" is freed
from the pressure against the inner side of the jacket N and will project through
the centre V of the slot M. When the desired strip C is brought to the slot M
the handle S is turned to cause its hooked inner end to engage with the apertured
end of the "pull or tab P. If the outer cylinder of glass E, E, is then revolved
the linen band B3 will be pulled out through the slot M, and wound on the outside
of the metal jacket N, in the direction in which the glass cylinder is revolved,
thereby clearly displaying the information contained on the linen band. When the
pressure on the glass cylinder is released, the spring roller will automatically wind
the linen band up around it. WW are small anti-friction rollers which can be
secured at the edges of the slot M to reduce friction and wear on the linen bands
as they are drawn out and in.

page_text: It will be seen that the machine is compact and strong in construction and
exceedingly efficient in operation. It can be exposed on public thoroughfares in
all kinds of weather and submitted to rough usage, without being damaged or
getting out of order. An ornamental figure or device can surmount the machine
to advertise any special article or firm and the surface of the inner metallic jacket N
and the roof F may be ornamented with advertisements.
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. The combination, with a rotary frame carrying a series of spring rollers
having bands wound thereon provided at their outer edges or ends with elastic
tabs, of a vertically-slotted cylindrical casing surrounding said frame and flexing
the tabs, the said tabs being constructed to successively spring through the slot
in said casing, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a rotary frame having a series of spring rollers
carrying bands provided each with an elastic tab and a casing surrounding said
frame and having a slot through which the said tabs successively spring and through
which the bands may be drawn, of an outer transpicuous casing surrounding the said
slotted casing and having an inwardly projecting hook or arm to engage any one
of said tabs and hold that end of the band while the frame is being rotated to
expose the band, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a frame having a series of rollers carrying bands the
outer edges of which are each provided with a longitudinally-extending stop rod
having an apertured tab said rods being arranged in a circular series with their
tabs projecting outwardly, of an outer transpicuous casing having a hook on its
inner side adapted to engage any one of said apertured tabs and hold it while
the frame is rotated to unwind the band, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a supporting post D, of the revolving frame A. A, the
spring rollers B B' mounted therein, the display bands B secured and wound on
the rollers B', the metal strips C secured to the outer ends of the bands B and
having the projecting flexible tabs P formed with the end apertures p, the
stationary jacket N formed with the vertical slot M, a revolving glass casing
enclosing the jacket N and a handle S extending through the glass casing and
having a hooked inner end, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with a supporting post D, of the revolving frame A. A, the
spring rollers B' mounted therein, the bands B secured to and wound on the
rollers B the metal strips C secured to the outer ends of the bands B and having
the projecting flexible tabs P formed with the end apertures, the stationary jacket N
formed with the vertical slot M, the revolving outer casing consisting of the roof F,
the two glass semi-cylinders E E, the recessed binding strips R and metal rings G
and the handle S passing through one of the strips R and having the hooked inner
end, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a supporting post D, of the revolving frame A A e
having the handles and guide rods X X the spring rollers B mounted in the
frame A A, the display bands B secured and wound on the rollers B¹, the metal
strips C secured to the outer ends of the bands B and having the flexible tabs P
and the stationary jacket N formed with the vertical slot M and having the anti-
friction rollers Wat the edges of said slot, substantially as set forth.
Natal thin 8th day of No 1901
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.