Improvements in Appointment, Engaged, and like Indicators for Offices, Hotels, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appointment, Engaged, and like Indicators for
Offices, Hotels, and the like.
SIDNEY WILLIAMS Four Ash Street Usk Monmouthshire Gas Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An arrangement in the form of a box or case and containing dials-to be fixed
on the outer side of office and other doors, for the purpose of informing callers
(whereby they can see at a glance) whether or no the occupier is within, or out,
and what time he would return, and whether engaged, dis-engaged, and for how
long, and also to show a specified day when the occupant will return and such like.
The indicator may also be used in hotels, and other establishments, to be fixed on
bedroom and other doors, whereby visitors and others wishing to give orders to be
called at a certain hour may do so, by fixing the dial at whatever time they desire
to be called, and by the use of one more dial may also give instructions as to
the time breakfast, or any other meal or carriage may be required. The indicator
may also show the number of room such as No. 1 and such like, thereby doing
away with the necessity of having the number painted on the doors. The porter
or attendant in charge would be able to take their instructions by looking at
the indicator on each door. The outer case of the indicator may be made of
cast brass and burnished, or bronzed, and may be made to any convenient. size
according to the number of dials it would contain, thus, for one dial the indicator
may be made 4 inches x 14 inches that being the outside measurements, and for
ordinary purposes and to contain three dials a convenient size would
be 7 inches x 3 inches outside measurments, it would be about inch in depth,
and would have a flange about inch wide all round, the flange being for the
purpose of fixing (with ordinary screws) to the door, the same when fixed would
be flat against the door. Thus, the above mentioned large size would when fixed
show a surface of 7 inches x 34 inches-there would be a square of glass the
size of the inside of the box, fitted inside and to the front of the box. There will
be spaces cut out in the brass front of the box, thus showing the glass through
the spaces..
In a box of the above dimensions (the size 7 in. x 3 in.) there
would be three spaces, two horizontal, and one circular space, the horizontal
spaces being each about 1 in. x in. The circular space being about of a circle,
and showing above and between the two horizontal spaces. In a box of the above
size there would be three dials connected (each seperately) to spindles, and would
be fitted in the box, in such a manner so as to revolve, thereby showing the
particular text wishing to be made known through the spaces. The first or left
hand dial would be the name dial, and would show the name required in the left-
hand horizontal space, the centre dial would be spaced into thirds so as to
contain three seperate sentences, such as Will return at Engaged till
Disengaged at or any other!sentence of the like. The right-hand dial would
be the time and days of the week dial, and would revolve so as to show in the
right-hand horizontal space, the time such as 1 o'clock, and also the days of the
week may be printed on the same dial. The dials by the use of. the spindle to be
manipulated from the inner side of the door, being just long enough to pass through
ibe door, there would be a spiral wire spring around each spindle, and at the back

page_text: of the dial, for the purpose of keeping the dial to the front of the glass, there
would also be a sheet of metal to form a cover to the box, the cover being between
the box and the door. All the dials may be made of metal and all with the
exception of the name dial may be enamelled white with the words or letters
stamped permanently. The name dial would be blank so that anyone may fix
their own name thereto. The dials may easily be taken out before the indicator
is fixed to the door. The indicator may easily be fixed to any door would only
require holes about in. dia. made in the door for the purpose of each spindle
to pass through, and then screwed to the door with ordinary screws through the
flange.
Dated this 18th day of February 1896.
SIDNEY WILLIAMS.
Improvements in Appointment, Engaged, and like Indicators for
Offices, Hotels, and the like.
SIDNEY WILLIAMS Four Ash Street Usk, Monmouthshire England Gas
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 consists of an arrangement in the form of a box or case and
containing a combination of dials for fixing on the outer side of office and other
doors for the purpose of informing callers (whereby they may see at a glance)
whether the occupant is within or out and whether engaged, disengaged, and for
how long and such like, also to show a specified day of the week and hour when
the occupant will return.
The indicator may also be used in hotel and other like establishments to be fixed
on bed-room and other doors whereby visitors and others wishing to give orders to
be called at a certain hour may do so by fixing the dials at whatever time they
desire to be called, and may also give instructions as to the time breakfast or any
other meal may be required. I would carry out my invention in the following
manner, the outer case of the indicator may be made of brass (cast or otherwise)
or any other suitable material may be used, and may have an ornamental appearance,
the said case may be made to any convenient size and shape; the size to be regu-
lated according to the number of dials it may contain and also the size of the text
or letters wishing to be shown, the box or case will have openings or spaces
showing in the front, such openings may be in any convenient form or position,
horizontal, circular, or otherwise, the size of the openings or spaces to be regulated
by the size of the text or letters on the dials, to protect the dial faces at the
openings I would fit glass or any other transparent material in the inside of the
case, I would have dials or discs fitted inside the case in such a manner so as to
revolve and show in the said openings, the dials being connected to spindles, and
the spindles being long enough to pass through to the inner side of the door, the
indicator to be manipulated from the inner side duplicate dials, there will be a
wire spiral spring around each spindle and at the back of each dial, this spring
being for the purpose of keeping the dials close on the pivots and bearing against
the metal strips which retains the glass in position, and also stiffening the movement
of the dials, or I may have fitted to each spindle a toothed wheel with ratchet-like
action the number of teeth in each wheel to correspond with the number of text on
each particular dial, the dials may be fixed to the spindles by soldering or may be
fixed in any other suitable manner, to secure the glass, aud to fit the dials I would

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the openings, on the said strips of metal there would be pivots, the pivots being for
shaped in such a manner so as not to interfere with
the purpose of supporting and taking the bearing of the spindies the ends of the
spindles being hollow, the strips may then after the glass is in position be secured
to the case of the indicator by soldering,. I would have a sheet of metal to form a
cover to the box or case, and when fixed in position would be between the door
and the indicator. There would be a dial (on which anyone may attach their
own name before the indicator is fixed to the door) fitted in the case in such a
manner so as to revolve and show the name in one of the openings in the front
of the case, this same dial may have printed permanently thereon the days of the
week as-Saturday-and such like days and also such words as--Call at
Breakfast or any other such like words. There would be another dial fitted in
the case so as to revolve and show in another opening such words or phrases as--
Will return at - Engaged till In attendance
words which may be regulated according to the profession or calling of the occupant,.
there would also be a dial fitted in the case in a similar manner so as to revolve and
or any other such like-
show in a given space the time as-9 a.m.-9.30 a.m. and such like, the occupant
would be able to set the dials to read-Mr. A. will return at 10 a.m.-Will return
Monday, 8 a.m.-Call at 6 a.m.-Breakfast 6.30 a.m. or any other like words that.
may be provided for on the dials, there may be a blank space on each of the dials
to put the indicator out of use.
-
--
In cases of joint occupation more than one set of dials may be fitted in the same
case or more than one name may be put on the same dial, the dials may be made
of any suitable material (metal prefered) and may have an enamelled face and the-
words time and such like stamped permanently thereon, there will be a flange
around the indicator for the purpose of fixing and may easily be fixed to any door.
or partition all the fixing required would be to make holes for each seperate spindle
then secure same with screws, connected to the spindles on the inner side of the
door there may be a set of dials similar to the ones fitted inside the case for the
purpose of indicating from the inner-side what information is exposed in the out-
side openings. These dials would be fixed to a tubular spindle, the tube being just
large enough to pass over the main spindle and may be fixed and adjusted by
means of a set screw, there may be a metal sheild or case fixed on the inner-side
and having corresponding openings to the outside front of the indicator, there will.
be knobs or rims at the end of each spindle for the purpose of turning the dials,.
he rims may be made of brass or any other suitable material.
DESOL
ratus to consist of a box or case A containing the dials B (Figs. 1, 2, 3.
& 4) the inner portion of the box or case to be fitted with a glass cover C
(Fig. 2 & 3) held in place by the metal H piece D. The pivots E (Fig. 2) supporting-
the dials are fixed to the metal H piece.
The dials B. are of metal having enamelled faces and are fixed upon a tubular
spindle F (Fig. 2, 3 & 4) which spindle passes through the metal cover (Fig. 2 & 4).
of the casing or box and continuing through the door or partition J (Fig. 2, 3 & 4) is
terminated with a suitable head K (Fig. 2, 3, & 4) whereby the dials are actuated,
a small screw L holds the head securely in position. The back cover G is secured
to the lugs M (Fig. 1, 2, 3 & 4) on the box or case by small screws as shown.
and in fixing this cover the spiral springs N (Fig. 2, 3 & 4) compresses the dials
into position and ensure the necessary stiffness to retain the dials in any desirel.
position.

page_text: Duplicate dials with enamell faces are secured to the spindles F by the screws O
(Fig. 2 & 3) at the back or inner side of the door or partition (Fig. 2 3 & 4) the
dials having similar words figures or names as inscribed on those within the box
or case, and which on being revolved, indicate the precise words figures or names
as appear opposite the openings on the front of the box or case Fig. 1.
The length of the spindles will vary with the thickness of door or partition and
size of box or case with the number of dials required.
Having now particulary described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
(1.) A combination of revolving or rotating dials fitted in a box or case for the
purpose of indicating in the manner as herein my specifications described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
SIDNEY WILLIAMS.