An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Advertising Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Advertising Purposes.
We HENRY VAUGHAN LANCHESTER Architect and FREDERICK WILLIAM
LANCHESTER Engineer both of 7 Balham Grove London S.W. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for advertising purposes, and
consists in causing advertisements to appear and disappear, or change colour, or two
advertisements or portions of an advertisement to appear alternately by the means
hereinafter described.
A form of apparatus constructed according to this invention comprises a grating
and a screen, the screen being placed behind the grating and bearing the advertise-
ments it is desired to display. This grating is preferably constructed of sheet metal
perforated with a number of parallel slots each slot being of equal width to the strip
of metal left The screen may be of such construction as is ordinarily used for
advertisement boards, all lettering or designs executed thereon being printed in a
number of parallel lines or bands corresponding in width and position with the slots
in the grating.
The grating is attached to the screen directly in front of it either close against it or
at a small distance from it In the first arrangement a small transverse movement
equal in extent to the width of a slot is allowed to either the grating or the screen
and the one is caused to move relatively to the other by energy derived from any
convenient source and transmitted by any suitable means In the second case when a
small space is allowed between the screen and the grating they may be attached
rigidly to one another and the required effect is produced by the movement of either
the observer or of the advertisement as a whole.
The grating may be coloured in any desired manner or surfaces may be formed on
each bar in order to reflect and thereby intensify the advertisement exhibited
H. V. LANCHESTER.
F. W. LANCHESTER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Contrivance for Advertising Purposes.
We HENRY VAUGHAN LANCHESTER Architect and FREDERICK WILLIAM
LANCHESTER Draughtsman, both of 13 Bedford Row London W.C. formerly of
7 Balham Grove, London, S.W., 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 :-
This invention consists in apparatus by means of which advertisements are made to
appear and disappear or to change colour, or two advertisements or portions of an
advertisement are made to appear alternately.
An apparatus constructed according to this invention comprises a grating and a
screen placed behind the grating. The grating is preferably constructed of sheet
metal and is perforated with a number of parallel slots, each slot being of equal width
to the strip or bar of metal left. The screen is of such construction as is ordinarily
used for advertisement boards. Supposing now the screen to be divided into a
number of parallel spaces equal in width to the slots or bars of the grating, those
portions of letters or designs to be represented that occupy the alternate spaces on the
screen are marked and the remaining spaces are left blank or utilized in a similar
manner for a second set of letters or designs. All lettering or designs executed on

page_text: the screen are thus represented by a number of parallel lines or bands having a width
equal to that of the slots or bars in the grating.
In the
The grating is attached to the screen directly in front of it either close against it or
at a small distance from it In the first arrangement a small longitudinal movement
equal in extent to the width of a slot is allowed to either the grating or the screen and
the one is caused to move relatively to the other by any suitable means.
second arrangement when a small space is allowed between the screen and the grating,
they may be attached rigidly to one another and the required effect is produced by the
movement of either the observer or of the advertisement as a w whole.
The grating may be coloured in any desired manner or surfaces may be formed on
ench har in order to reflect and thereby intensify the advertisement exhibited. If
desired the grating may be a flat surface inarked with black stripes and placed behind
the screen, which is then made transparent
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings:
:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an apparatus constructed according to this invention and
in which the grating is fixed and the screen is moveable and shewing one position of
the screen.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 shewing the other position of the screen.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the same
Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views to Figs 1 and 3 respectively shewing a similar
apparatus in which reflecting surfaces are formed on the bars of the grating to
intensify the exhibited matter.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view shewing the action of the reflecting surface in
intensifying the advertisement.
Fig. 7 shews in partial elevation a convenient method of suspending the screen so
that it can be actuated by a vibratory movement.
Fig. 8 shews in cross sectional elevation an arrangement in which the grating is
arranged to slide on the screen.
Fig. 9 illustrates in cross sectional elevation an arrangement in which the screen
and grating are securely attached to one another and the required effect produced by
the relative movement of the observer and advertisement as a whole.
With reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the screen B slides on a frame C carrying the
grating A. The screen B is shown in its two extreme positions in Figs 1, and 2
and represents parts of the words "Patent Advertiser." At the right hand end the
grating is broken away shewing the form in which the lettering is represented on the
screen by the N of Patent and IS of Advertiser.
With reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the grating A is shown stamped from sheet
metal, the part removed in forming the slots being bent to form reflecting surfaces.
Fig. 4 shews the bottom part of the letter D and Fig. shews to an enlarged scale
the action of these surfaces in reflecting light
In Fig. 7 the screen B is shewn supported at its ends by links D so that it
will be in a state of equilibrium only in its extreme positions and will alternately
be thrown from one to the other by any vibration communicated to the frame C.
In Fig. 8 the grating A is shewn arranged to slide on the screen B. It is obvious
that the arrangements shewn in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and Fig. 7 are equally applicable to
this arrangement.
,
In Fig. 9 the screen B is shewn rigidly secured to the grating A, a space being
left between them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An advertising apparatus consisting of a grating formed of parallel bars and
of a screen or card supported behind the grating and bearing parts of the advertisement
which parts are completed or hidden by the said bars substantially as described and in
the manner set forth.
2. An advertising apparatus consisting of a grating formed of equal and paralle

page_text: slots and bars and of a screen or card relatively moveable behind the grating and
bearing parts of one or more sets of lettering or designs which parts of each set are
completed or hidden by the said bars in particular relative positions of the screen and
grating substantially as described and in the manner set forth.
3. An advertising apparatus consisting of a grating with equal and parallel slots
and bars, the bars being made to form reflecting surfaces and of a screen or card
relatively movable behind the grating and bearing parts of one or more sets of
lettering or designs which parts of each set are completed or hidden by the said bars
in particular relative positions of the screen and grating substantially as described and
in the manner set forth.
4. An advertising apparatus consisting of a grating formed of equal and parallel
slots and bars and of a screen or card fixed behind the grating at a small distance
therefrom and carrying parts of one or more sets of lettering or designs which
parts of each set are completed or hidden by the said bars in particular relative
positions of the observer and apparatus substantially as described and in the manner
set forth.
5. An advertising apparatus consisting of a flat surface with black parallel stripes
arranged behind a transparent screen carrying parts of one or more sets of lettering
or designs which parts of each set are completed or hidden by the black stripes
substantially as described and in the manner set forth.
6. Advertising apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated this 3rd dow of February 1890
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.