mprovements in Number and Name Plates or Tablets for Various Articles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in Number and Name Plates or Tablets for Various
Articles.
We, ALFRED BROWN and HENRY CLARKE PRUCE, trading as A. Brown and
Company of Smallbrook Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturers and
Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to number and name plates or tablets for various articles
uch for example as hat, coat and like hooks and pegs, door number plates, and
the like.
Now, our invention has for its object, the affixing in position, of the loose or
attached numerals or letters employed, to the tablet or carrying-plate.
Heretofore, the loose numerals or letters have been attached, by pins or studs on
the backs of them, taking through coincident small holes in the carrying-plates,
and then permanently affixed by rivetting.
According to our invention, we provide the carrying-plate with a longitudinal
and middle and single piercing or opening, common to all the numerals or letters
coming in one line, and through the said piercing or opening, studs, blocks, or pins
on the backs of the numerals or letters take, and are affixed collectively in position,
by rivetting or otherwise.
In carrying out one form of our invention in connection with a numbered hat and
coat hook, we take a suitable plate or clip, and provide the same with a longitudinal
middle piercing, of a length sufficient to take the studs of the separate-numerals of
a long number, such as one thousand two hundred and twenty four.
The breadth of the piercing is about equal to that of the studs, which are at the
backs of each of the loose numerals, and of depth a little greater than the thickness
of the metal of the plate or clip, which is preferably of the shape of an inverted
shallow box, with its edges shaped to take or embrace the front middle part of the
hook, which may be made from wire, or from solid metal as may be desired.
Assuming the plate or clip of a hook to be fitted with a number, composed of
four loose-numerals, and making the number 1224; the square studs or blocks
which stand away from the backs of the numerals are then placed in the slot or
piercing in their respective positions, and there rivetted. We propose that the
studs should be broader than the numerals themselves, so as to fill up the whole of
the piercing.
Thus, the block of the second numeral is adapted to come up to the block of the
first one, and that of the third, to the second one and so on.
Instead of making the blocks, studs or the like of the necessary breadth to fill
up the slot or piercing wherein they take, and are rivetted from the back, filling-in
supplementary closure pieces may be employed.
In carrying out another form of our invention, we make the studs at the backs
of the numerals with undercut sides, or of the figure of a dovetail, and we make the
boundary edges of the piercing or slot of a dovetail section, and with one end of the
piercing or slot slightly enlarged, so as to admit of the passage therethrough of
the studs, in order to slide into position the numerals.
Thus, in setting up a number such as before referred to, pass the studs carried
by the numbers through the end gap, then slide the same forward along the slot, in
the order in which they are to be arranged, then fill up the gap by a closure stud
or button, rivetted, or otherwise affixed in position.
The numerals may be separated from each other to the requisite distance by
extensions of the studs, or by supplementary closure or filling up studs.

page_text: Or the studs, instead of being made of a dovetail figure, may be made of the
shape of a letter T.
As a still further form the studs may be made hook-shaped, or they may be
pierced.
As a still further form of our invention, we make the numerals with tapped holes
in the backs of their studs, or affix the same in position by screwing home screw pins,
with the beads coming at the backs of the plates.
Or the backs of the numerals may carry square studs, with outstanding screw
pegs, upon which latter, screw nuts take for affixing.
Dated this 7th day of February 1893.
ALFRED BROWN,
HENRY CLARKE' PRUCE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Number and Name Plates or Tablets for Various
Articles.
We, ALFRED BROWN and HENRY CLARKE PRUCE, trading as A. Brown and
Company, of Smallbrook Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturers and
Merchants, 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 :-
Our invention relates to number and name plates or tablets for various articles,
such for example as hat, coat and like hooks and pegs, door number plates, and
the like.
Now, our invention has for its object, the affixing in position of the loose or
attached numerals or letters employed, to the tablet or carrying-plate.
According to our invention, we provide the carrying plate with a longitudinal
piercing or piercings, common to all the numerals or letters coming in one line, and
through the said piercing or piercings, studs, blocks, or pins on the backs of the
numerals or letters take, and are affixed collectively in position, by rivetting or
otherwise.
In carrying out one form of our invention in connection with a numbered hat and
coat hook, we take a suitable plate or clip, and provide the same with a longitudinal
middle slot or piercing, of a length sufficient to take the studs of the separate
numerals of a number, such for example as one hundred and twenty.
The breadth of the piercing is about equal to that of the studs, which are at the
backs of each of the loose numerals, and of depth a little greater than the thickness
of the metal of the plate or clip, which is preferably of the shape of an inverted
shallow box, with its edges shaped to take or embrace the front middle part of the
hook, which may be made from wire, or from solid metal as may be desired.
Assuming the plate or clip of a hook to be fitted with a number, composed of
two or three loose numerals, and making the number 92 or 120; the square studs
or blocks which stand away from the backs of the numerals are then placed in the
slot or piercing in their respective positions, and there rivetted. We propose that
the studs should be longer than the breadth of, or the space comprehended by, the
numerals themselves, so as to fill up the whole of the piercing.
Thus, the block of the second numeral is adapted to come up to the block of the
first one, and that of the third to the second one, and so on.
Instead of making the blocks, studs or the like of the necessary breadth to fill
up the slot or piercing wherein they take, and are rivetted from the back, filling-in
supplementary closure pieces may be employed.
Tu carrying out another form of our invention, we make the studs at the backs

page_text: of the numerals with undercut sides, or of the figure of a dovetail, and we make
the boundary edges of the piercing or slot of a dovetail section, and with one end
of the piercing or slot slightly enlarged, so as to admit of the passage there-
through of the studs, in order to slide into position the numerals.
Thus, in setting up a number such as before referred to, according to this last
form of our invention, pass the studs carried by the numbers through the end gap
of the slot, then slide the same forward along the slot in the order in which they
are to be arranged, then fill up the gap by a closure stud or button rivetted or
otherwise affixed in position.
The numerals may be separated from each other to the requisite distance by
extension of the studs, or by supplementary closure or filling-up studs.
Or the studs, instead of being made of a dovetail figure, may be made of the
shape of a letter T.
As a still further form the studs may be made hook-shaped, or they may be
pierced.
As a still further form of our invention, we make the numerals with tapped
holes in the backs of their studs, or affix the same in position by screwing home
screw pins, with the heads coming at the backs of the plates.
Or the backs of the numerals may carry square studs, with outstanding screw
pegs, upon which latter, screw nuts take for affixing.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents, in perspective, a hat and
coat hook having a number plate with the number set up or composed of loose
numerals according to our invention.
Figure 2 represents a front elevation of the said number plate separately.
Figure 3 is a back elevation of the same, showing how the loose numerals,
which have studs at the back which take into a longitudinal slot formed in the
plate, are secured or fitted and rivetted in position.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 2 upon the dotted lines A B,
but with the loose and fitted numerals composing the number 92 shown in elevation.
Figure 5 shows the backs of the said loose numerals separately, and which backs
have long studs or blocks which take within slots or gaps formed within the number
plates.
Figure 6 shows an edge view of one of the numerals, and the edge of the stud,
which is preferably channelled, so as to admit of the metal of the same being more
easily spread on rivetting.
Figure 7 represents a back elevation of the number plate separately. Figure 8
is a cross section of Figure 2 upon the dotted lines C D.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of the number plate, with the studs of the
numerals fitted with distance closures, so that the said studs may be of a less
breadth than the numerals themselves, and the deficiency of such breadth, so as to
entirely fill up the slot, may be made up by added or closure distance pieces.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of a modified form of our invention.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the plate or clip of the same, whilst
Figure 12 is an edge view of a loose numeral.
Figure 13 is a still further modified form of our invention, and Figure 14 is a
portion of the number.
Figure 15 is a still further form of our invention, and Figure 16 is the number
plate of Figure 15 separately, whilst Figures 17, 18 and 19 are also further forms
of number or name plates.
In Figures 1 to 8, a is a number plate, clip, tablet or attachment, having a
longitudinal slot or piercing a³, directed through its middle part, and of sufficient
length to take the stud or studs 6, of one, two, three or more loose numerals b,
and on the said studs being passed through the said slot, which is filled up either
by the studs of the numerals alone, or by a stud or the studs of one or two
numerals, without additional fitted distance blocks or filling-up pieces, the said
humerals are then affixed in positions by expanding or rivetting the metal at the

page_text: back of the studs, so as to make the said expanded parts overhang the backs of
the slots, as set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8.
Thus in setting up the number 92 upon a number plate, the separate numerals 9
and 2 are taken, and their studs 63, placed within the slot or longitudinal opening a³,
and the metal at their back parts 6, expanded over the back edges a', of the slot a³,
thereby retaining the said set-up and fitted numerals in their proper relative
positions, making the number as desired.
In these said figures, no filling up pieces are employed, as the studs at the backs
of the said numerals are made of a given length, so as to fill up the entire opening
or slot.
Thus, if the number is to be composed only of a single numeral, then we may
have a stud of the length of the slot in the plate, but where the number is to be
composed of two numerals, then the studs of each numeral may be of half the
length of the slot, and further if the number is to be composed of three numerals,
then the studs of each may be of one third the length of the slot. .
In the modification Figure 9, a is the number plate, a' the longitudinal slot,
and a' the back edge of the same.
b are loose numerals, with studs 6, and expanded backs 6, and disposed between
the loose numerals, of which three are represented, filling in or closure pieces c, are
fitted.
In the modification Figures 10, 11 and 12, a is the number plate, and a³ is a
dovetail slot cut within a brought forward front part a. The said slot a' is open
at one end at a³, so as to admit of the sliding into position of a loose numeral or
numerals b, having dovetail back studs b³. After a numeral or numerals have been
placed in position, the same are secured by rivetting or expanding the backs of
them, or by filling up the end of the slot by fitted closure pieces.
In the inodified form Figures 13 and 14, a is the number plate, a³ a longitudinal
slot therein, having an enlargement hole a, at one end, wherethrough the enlarged
back end, of the stud 6 of a numeral or numerals b, pass, in order to fit the said
numerals in position on the plate.
Thus assuming that two or more numerals are required to form the number, first
pass the expanded or T ends 63, through the opening a', then slide the studs 6*
along the slot from left to right, and on the same coming into their assigned
positions, the same are affixed, and prevented from being withdrawn, either by
rivetting, or filling up the gap a³ and the entrance to, or a part of, the slot by a
closure or closures.
In Figures 15 and 16, the edges of the slot in the number plate are made taper,
so also are the opposite sides of the studs.
In other respects the said arrangement Figures 15 and 16 is alike unto that of
Figure 13.
In Figure 17, the numerals are affixed within a longitudinal slot by hook-ended
rear extensions. a is the plate, a³ the longitudinal slot, and 6' a hook-ended back
part of the numeral b.
The said numerals are affixed in position by bringing the said hooked back
part, lignable with the longitudinal slot, and then passing the said hook forward
through the slot, and turning at right angles the numerals, so as to bring the hook
part overhanging the metal of the slot part as illustrated in Figure 17, and then
the said numerals are affixed in position by spacing blocks, or by closing down the
booked back part.
In Figure 18, a is the plate with longitudinal slot a²; 6 is a numeral, with a
screwed stud at its back, and taking upon the end is a nut b³, of a greater
breadth than the slot, hence the affixing.
In Figure 19, a is the number plate, a² the longitudinal slot formed within the
middle of the same, is a numeral, with stud 62, at its back, having a tapped hole
up its middle, into which the screw pin 6, enters from the back, and with an
interposed washer 6º, overhanging the edges of the slot, hence the affixing.

page_text: Instead of employing one slot for one set of numerals, we may employ two or
more slots for two or more sets of numerals.
The application of our invention to name and other plates differs in no essential
respect from its application to a number plate, and we wish it to be understood that
we do not limit ourselves to any form or construction of plate, tablet or the like,
as the same does not constitute any part of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declaro that what we
claim is :-
First In number or name plates or tablets, fitting or setting up loose numerals,
letters or characters within a continuous slot or piercing, or within a longitudinal
slot or slots or piercing or piercings, so as to form numbers, words or the like,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-In number or name plates or tablets, fitting or setting up loose
numerals, letters or characters to form numbers, names or the like'upon carrying
plates, clips or tablets for various purposes, by studs, blocks or shanks on the backs
of the said loose numerals, letters or characters taking into and through slots formed
within the said carrying plates, clips or tablets, and there secured by rivetting,
expansion or otherwise, substantially as described and set forth.
'Thirdly-In number or name plates or tablets, the means herein described of
setting up and fitting numerals, letters or characters or component numerals, letters
or characters in the production of numbers or names in connection with the said
plates or tablets, substantially in the ways as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 28th day of August 1893.
ALFRED BROWN,
HENRY CLARKE PRUCE,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.