IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING INFORMATION BY THE EXHIBITION OF CARDS OR TABLETS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING INFORMATION BY THE EXHIBITION
OF CARDS OR TABLETS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Edward Stanley Boynton, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1881.
.WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GIVING
INFORMATION BY THE EXHIBITION OF CARDS OR TABLETS, AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Edward Stanley Boynton, of
Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide a convenient and positively-operating
exhibiting case for use in railway trains and stations, stereopticons, elevators or
lifts, and any places where immediate and varying information by sight is desired,
and its principal peculiarity consists in the card-piling mechanism and direct-acting
card-elevator, which unfailingly brings each card or tablet opposite the opening
through which it is seen, and leaves it there with no chance of mistake.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved exhibiting case with the door
open, and
.
Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view partly in section, and
Figure 4 is a plan or top view of part of the card-piling mechanism.
Figures 5 and 6 represent in vertical section modifications of the said Invention
adapted to exhibiting on the front and rear of the case.
Figure 7 represents two of the cards adapted for use with the cases shown in
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figure 8 represents cards adapted for use with the case shown in Figure 5.
Figure 9 represents cards adapted for use with the case shown in Figure 6.

page_text: A represents the exterior case; B, its door, and C, the centre case supporting the
card elevator D; E, E¹, are the card stops, and G is the vacuum-cylinder; H; H, are
the cards; I, I, are the folding corners; J is the air-passage to the vacuum-cylinder;
K is the opening in the case, and L is the illuminating chamber.
In carrying the said Invention into practice, I construct an outside case of
suitable material, and of sufficient size to receive two piles of cards, allowing space
in the centre between the said piles for a card-elevator, and the necessary mechanism
to operate it. In the said outside case, one or more openings are left at the points
where the exhibit is to be made. The said case is also provided with a door at one
end to allow the placing in position and the removal of the card-piles. The sides
of the said case internally are so formed as to deliver the cards to be piled centrally
over the pile already formed at the bottom of the case.
It will be seen by reference to the Drawings, that in some of the cases shown I
have made the outside of the case to conform to the outlines of the interior; this is
however a matter only of symmetry, and not essential to the operation of this
Invention.
In the centre of the outside case I construct a partition of suitable width to
support a card-elevator, provided at the top with a table or flat surface equal to the
superficial dimensions of the exhibiting cards. In some of the Figures of the
Drawings this elevator is shewn as forming three sides of a hexagon; the latter
form is used when the mechanism for operating the card-elevator is of a greater
cross-section than the width of the exhibiting cards, as in Figure 1, and when it is
desired to illuminate the cards, as in Figure 5.
The card-elevator is guided by two rods affixed to it, and sliding in grooves in
the central partition; a cross-head connects these rods at their lower end. At the
top of this central partition is a platform equal in length and width to the card-
elevator, which it supports in its lower position, and it supports the grooved pieces
in which the card elevator rods move up and down.
In the case shewn in Figure 1, the platform is constructed of sufficient thickness
to allow air-passages to be made from the outside of the case to and through a
cross-head of a collapsing cylinder secured to the top of the platform, and extending
down between the guide-rods and the lower head affixed to the cross-head at the
lower end of the same. This cylinder is constructed of leather, india-rubber, or any
suitable flexible material secured to rigid rings, to prevent its collapsing when in
operation.
The card-stops are constructed of a heavy material extending the whole length
of the central partition on both sides of the same, and affixed to it by pintles or
hinges; at each end of these stops are projections which fall under the card, or
through the opening at the angular-ends of the same, and rest against the inside of
the outer case; this operation is entirely automatic.
The said card-stops are provided with a lever extending below their hinges or
pintles, which lever is curved to allow space between the levers to place the bolt of
an ordinary tumbler-lock, the levers resting upon the opposite end of the lock-bolt.
When this bolt is locked, one of the card-stops is thrown out of the path of the
rising and falling cards, while the other is left free to automatically stop the
descent of the cards on the opposite side. When the bolt is unlocked this condition
of the levers is reversed.
The cards are made of a size corresponding to the opening where they are to be
exhibited, and preferably of tin enclosed in cloth cases hinged or united to each
other at the top and bottom so as to form a chain, the corners of the tin being cut
at opposite angles, so that the lower halves of the cards always strike folding
corners or corner-pieces I, I, when gravity causes them to fall 'flat, leaving the
succeeding card exposed at the opening K. The continuous cards H, H, are placed
in the front of the box, and are led over the top of the card-elevator D, and down
behind it to the bottom of the case A in sufficient number to form a pile thereon.
The card-elevator D is now lifted either by a vacuum or pressure cylinder, as shown,
or by a rod or any convenient method suitable for the purpose. As it rises it lifts
"

page_text: a card from each pile; as the front card rises above the stop E, the latter falls
beneath such card, and supports it in place behind the opening K. The card-.
elevator D is now dropped, and two cards fall to the rear pile by gravity, the angles
of the cards and the opposite folding corners I, I, securing their fall in a pile
alternately to the front and rear.
When desired the contrivance is run backwards with like effect, by simply
reversing the positions of the stops E, E¹, which may be done by any well known
means for such purpose.
In Figures 5 and 6, the openings for indication are shewn at the front and rear,
and the cases are adapted for illumination by a light in the chamber L, transparent
cards being employed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that claim,―
First. The combination of a pile of hinged cards projecting longitudinally at the
centre of each end, the folding corner-pieces, the rising and falling card-elevator,
and one or more card-stops operating together, substantially as above set forth, and
for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of a card-elevator, a chain of hinged cards, and a
vacuum or pressure cylinder constructed and operating together, substantially as
above set forth, and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)