Signalling Apparatus for Restaurants and like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Signalling Apparatus for Restaurants and like Purposes.
I, FRIEDRICH ULFFERS, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
The object of the apparatus hereafter described is principally a novel and pleasing
adjunct to meal tables and the tables of restaurants, cafés, and the like, with the view
of providing a convenient means for attracting the attention of the servants.
The apparatus consists essentially of a stand with a vertical shaft, along which a
signal or indicator can move up and down so that in one (the lower) position it is not
conspicuous, but when raised to a height it is then visible from a distance.
A mechanism at the bottom of the apparatus is so arranged that a slight pressure
on it releases the signal which is then driven up the vertical shaft and serves as an
optical sign in a conspicuous position on the upper part of the shaft. When pushed
down by the attendant the signal reverts again to its original lowered position.
In the drawings, Figures I to 6 shew the apparatus in vertical sections.
In a hollow cylindrical boss e (Figures 1 and 2) at-the bottom of the stand a. b. c. d.,
a vertical shaft 7 is fixed, which shaft has at its top end a slight conical thickening.
The lower part of the shaft is encircled by a spring u of flat steel (shown in Figure 1
in a compressed state and in Figure 2 in a released state) which lies with its lower
end on the top of the boss e; the indicator or signal rests on this spring. In the
which is attached to the top of a
example shown the signal is a light hollow ball
At the lower end the sleeve is
sleeve m. n. o. p., which surrounds the shaft 1.
provided with a flange (shown in Figures 1.2 and 5, in the latter Figure it is shown
to a larger scale). The inner part of the upper end m. n of the sleeve is slightly
conically widened and rounded. The lower part of the boss e is loosely surrounded
by a short spring z on which a casing f. g. h. k. rests, the bottom of which is covered
by a flat piece f g (shown in Figure 4 drawn separately in rectangular and vertical
sections) and the top part of which is covered by h. k. (see Figures 1. 2 and 3).
.

page_text: f. g. surrounds loosely the boss e whilst the upper part of the casing passes without
friction through an opening at b. c. in the top of the stand a. b. c. d which
terminates here in a correspondingly wide and thin casing or cylinder. f.g.h.kis
thus guided at the top and at the lower part, so as to move easily in a vertical
direction up and down; the spring keeps it up and a light pressure on the part h. k.
sends it down, its construction, dimensions and the limits of the guiding part b. c.
controlling its movement, upwards and downwards, to the distance between the
planes of elevation A. B and C. D. Figure 2.
On the interior of this casing f. g. h. k., are fixed by means of a hinges (Figure 4)
two arms (shown in Figure 5 drawn to a larger scale) each of which arms r is
provided with a spring t which leans in such a way against the inner side of f. g. h. k
that the arms are always inclined to assume the position as shown by Figures 1
and 2.
Suppose that the signal or indicator S with its sleeve m. n. o. p., should be in the
position as shown in Figure 2 and then be pushed down as far as possible, the spring u
will be compressed, the flange o. p comes in contact with the curves 1. 2 (Figure 5)
of the arms and pushes them apart, the lowest point of the curve 2 is passed and
immediately the arms overlap the higher part of the flange o. p. and holds it so that
the compressed spring u after removal of pressure upon S, will not be able to send S
upwards. The spring has in the meanwhile prevented the casing f. g. h. k., with its
arms from making a similar movement downwards.
and
The apparatus is now ready for signalling. By pressing downwards the part h. k,
the spring u is further compressed by the arms r pulling the flange o. p, and thereby
the whole signal, a little lower, the lower curves 3. 4, of the arms slide over the
fixed boss e whereby the arms r are driven outwards and release the flange o.
the compressed spring u is enabled to produce the effect required on the indicator S
which is driven up the shaft l. The slightly conically widened and rounded end m. n,
at the top of the sleeve jams against the coned part of the shaft and the signal is
thereby held in the raised position as shown in Figure 1 until a slight pressure by
hand sends it downwards for the next occasion. The spring z becomes released and
free after the downward pressure of f. g. h. k and resumes its original position as soon
as S is sent upwards.
In order that a bell shall ring when the signal goes up, a simple arrangement on
the top of the shaft 7 will serve the purpose as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The cone v
is lengthened and on the top a gong or bell is fixed. A tube w loosely surrounds the
continuation of the shaft and has attached to it a light frame x. The height of this
light tube and frame w. x. which slides on the shaft is such that the signal or
indicator S when it is driven up from below, and before it jams against the cone v,
pushes w. upwards so that whilst the signal S comes to rest, the frame flies up
and touches with its extended brim the inside of the bell and then rebounds into its
previous position (Figure 5) and thus causes the bell to sound.
In some cases the indicator S itself may be used as a bell; for instance the ball S
may be cut through horizontally in halves either of which can be used as a bell, or
only the upper one. These hollow halves of the ball or globe are provided with a
small body of metal which will serve as a tongue or clapper for the bell, which is
driven up when the signal $ stops, and touches the upper half of the ball, and by
rebounding from it may also sound the lower half of the ball.
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 :-
:-
First. A signalling apparatus for restaurants and like purposes characterized by a
movable indicator or signal S on a vertical shaft 7 the signal being driven up by an
arrangement of springs and caught in its top position by jamming its upper end, or
equivalent means; substantially as set forth.
Second. The arrangement of the casing f. g. h. k which moves up and down and is
borne by the spring z and is provided with spring arms
these arms having curved

page_text: parts 1. 2 and 3. 4 so formed that when the signal S is pressed down, the upper
curved parts 1 and 2 will catch and hold the signal in its lowest position and when
the part f. g. h. k is pressed down the lower curved parts 3 and 4, of the arms, will
cause the signal to be released.
Third. The arrangement of the bell striker w. x which moves on a continuation of
the shaft and is driven upwards by the signal, thus causing the bell to sound.
Dated this 28th day of February 1889
FRIEDRICH ULFFERS.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.
FRIEDRICH ULFFERS.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.