US1016371A - Advertising apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

LJ. SLEEPER.. ADVERTISING PPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29, 1909.

vPatented Feb. 6, 1912.

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uUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J'. SLEEPER, OF MOORES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR T0 UTILITY ADVERTISING COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. SLEEPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moores, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Advertising Apparatus.v of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in advertising apparatus, and has particular relation to apparatus of this type in which a plurality of signs are caused to be successively moved to a display-exposure position.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type in which a flexible carrier will have a path of movement normally guided to prevent excessive swaying, the carrier being provided with a plurality of inflexible display frames, the guides for the carrier serving to retain the display surfaces of the frames in a position corresponding to or parallel with the plane of the path of travel of the carrier while the surface is being displayed.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character a guide which serves not only as a guide for the carrier, but in addition for each of the display frames carried by the carrier, during predetermined lengths of movement of the frames. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling endless carrier having its path of tra vel controlled at fixed points therein, a plurality of display card frames supported by and located wholly above the carrier and movable therewith throughout its path of travel, and means for switching the display frames while the lat-ter are moving about such fixed points.

A further object is to provide, in a device of this type, an endless traveling carrier positioned below and adapted to support one or more display card frames throughout the path of travel of the carrier, the carrier having fixed points controlling the direction of such travel path, the display card frames being positively guided on their upper sides against a swaying movement of the frame during frame movements extending substantially throughout the display exposure portion of its movement, the swaypreventing means terminating short of the commencement of the movement of the frame around the curved travel path, and to provide means located wholly withinthe carrier travel path Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6,1912.

Serial No. 525,348.

for guiding the frame into its straight path after rounding the curved path.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a structure of this type which is simple and elficient in operation, durable in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the in vention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,-Figure 1 is a vert-ical sectional view of the casing or housing for the device, said view illustrating the device in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the top of the housing being omitted to more clearly `illustrate the relative arrangement of the parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 1 to more clearly illustrate the manner in which each display card frame is mounted. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale and showing one end only of the structure.

The present invention is of the general type shown in United States patent granted me April 26, 1910, No. 956,206, in which the principal feature consists in connecting the display card frames to the carrier at points approximately midway of the length of the frame, the connection being a pivotal one, and providing a single guide on one side of the path of movement of the frame, the guide cooperating with one or the other end of the frame to prevent pivotal movement of the frame during the period when it is passing through the display-exposure portion of its path of travel, the purpose being to provide freedom of movement of the frame, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing excessive drivng power as well as restricting wear on the frame to the minimum. To this extent the present invention embodies that referred to in said application, to provide which I employ a housing 10, approximately Usshaped in cross section, and of a length 'exceedingthat of the distance between the extremes of the path of movement of the endless carrier hereinafter referred to, said housing being provided above and below the top and bottom planes respectively of the display card frames, as indicated in Fig. 3, the upper housing being designated as 101. Mounted within said housings and located substantially midway between the vertical walls thereof are provided strips 11 and 11a respectively, said strips dividing the interior of the housing into two longitudinally extending channels 12 and 12a, the channel 12 being provided for the recept-ion of the endless carrier, the latter being in the form of a sprocket chain 13 mounted on sprocket wheels 14, which provide the extremes of longitudinal movement of the carrier, said sprocket wheels being spaced from the ends of the housings and supported in suitable manner by one or bot-h of the strips 11 and 11a. Movement of the carrier is provided from a suitable drive shaft 15 operated by a motor (not shown) through gear wheels 1G, this form of driving the carrier being simply shown as an example, the manner in which the carrier is driven being iinmaterial.` The housing 10gt is supported by means of one or more rods 17 each having its lower end carried by the strip 11, the upper end passing through the strip 11a and having a screw-threaded connect-ion with such strip, this rod or rods serving to prevent the upper housing 10a from sagging.

18 designates a display card frame, preferably rectangular, and formed in a manner which will permit of the ready insertion and removal of a display card therein. Each frame is pivotally connected to the carrier by means of a pin 19 connected to a link of the sprocket chain, said frame being formed to receive the pin at a point approximately midway of the length of the lower edge of the frame, the pin and frame being complementally formed to permit a relative movement therebetween. On the opposite side of the frame t-he latter is provided with a pin 20 projecting above the frame and have ing its outer end provided with a. roller 21 which rides within the channels 12a.

The construction thus far described, while differing from that set forth in the patent heretofore indicated, will provide substantially the same result, each frame 18 being carried along by reason of its connection with the sprocket chain 13, the upper end of the frame being supported against lateral movement by reason of the presence of the roller 21 within the channels 12a. This provides for a central .pivot for each frame, and since the strips 11 and 11a do not project inwardly a distance suflicient to prevent pivotal movement of the frame, the retaining of each frame in a predetermined path is provided by the vertical walls of the housing 10 without the necessity for providing additional means for preventing the normally free pivotal movement of the frame on the carrier.

In devices of this type it is the general purpose to provide a relatively narrow structure which may fit within the restricted Space afforded within a street-car, and for this purpose the carrier has its longitudinal paths of travel in opposite directions relatively close together, thereby rendering it impossible, where an inflexible display frame is used, to provide for a movement of the frame corresponding strictly with the. path of travel of the carrier, the principle generally employed being to permit the frame to pass beyond the sprocket wheels and be switched from one to the other channel while being carried around by the sprocket chain. The present invention is also of this type, differing mainly in the fact that the channels for the rollers 21 terminate short of the curved path provided by the sprocket wheels, thus leaving the upper portion of the frame unsupported against swaying during the shifting movement of the frame. By eliminating the coutinuous track usually provided in devices of this character and which would cause the roller 21 to follow a strict path throughoutthe travel path, I eliminate the liability of a binding of the parts such as results by attempting to force the roller 21 through a curved path having the form of a restricted channel a result produced by positively moving the opposite side of the frame at its point of connection with the carrier chain. While the elimination of this channel tends to permit a swaying movement of the frame at its upper side, this swaying movement is not as deleterious to the structure as the constant tendency of the parts to bind in the manner indicated. Of course, it will be understood, that where two rarrier chains are provided, one above, and the other below the frames, this binding effect is eliminated; the provision, however, of the double supporting means in the form of carrier chains, renders. the structure exceedingly expensive, a feature which it is the object of the present invention to avoid as much as possible. The swaying movement, however, is restricted to a great degree in the present invention by the means presently described and which also provide for an absolute certainty of the roller 21 being carried into its proper channel after the curved path has been rounded. The construction of parts for providing these results will now be described.

The strip 11a is of a lengt-h less than the distanceA between the axes of the sprocketwheels 14, the ends of said strip being spaced a distance from such wheels sufiiciently great to permit of the placing in position of the guiding member 25, said member being in the form of the spring having one end secured in a kerf in the strip 11, and vbeing reversibly bent, as at 26, to provide spring portions in contact with the inner faces of the vertical walls of the housing 10a, the member 25 gradually leading from its point of connection with the strip to its point of contact with the wall of the channel on that side of the housing wherein the frame is moving forward, the spring on the opposite side of the point 26 being curved toward and extending in contact wit-h the outer wall of the opposite channel, thereby providing, between the sprocket 14k and said spring, a mouth into which the roller is forced by reason of the curvature of the spring. The point 2G is spaced from the sprocket wheel 14 a distance sufficient to permit the wheel 21 to pass by during the switching movement of the frame. In use, the frame during its forward display movement gradually carries the roller 21 into the space between the spring and the channel wall and finally to the point of contact of spring member and wall with the result that the member 25 is forced out of Contact with the wall to permit the roller 21 to pass, the spring during this movement serving to retain the frame against swaying which might result from the shortening of the strip 11L heretofore referred to. The continued movement of the frame serves to cause its lower pivot to be 'carried around the sprocket wheel, during which rounding the roller has become freed from contact with the spring, whereupon the latter passes back to its contact with the channel wall, and thereby places an obstruction against a return of the frame to the channel from which it has just emerged. As the pivot of the frame is carried around, the upper side of the frame is unsupported against swaying, but as the distance between the walls is small, the swaying would not be great, and hence would not affect the structure. When, however, the framepivot has passed around the curved path, the roller 21 will be forced into its channel by the curved face of the member 25 should the swaying movement carry the roller out of its proper path. As will be readily understood this particular form of switching member absolutely prevents a movement of the frames in a reverse direction, each channel having at its opposite ends a barrier against a movement of the frame to reverse the direction of travel.

To coperate with the spring member 25, I provide the lower housing 10 with a suitable strip 30` secured to one of the vertical walls and extending obliquely across to the opposite wall of the housing, thereby providing a riding face for the rear end of the frame as the latter is rounding the sprocket wheel, the frame passing into contact with the inclined face 31 when the pivot point of the frame has reached its farthest point, andas it is carried forward the rear end of the frame passes in contact with said face and rides therealong, causing the opposite end of the frame to be moved toward the proper wall 10a to prevent liability of two frames moving in opposite directions from contact-ing with each other,

To provide against swaying movements of the frames outwardly, I preferably elnploy suitable filler blocks 35 at the bottom of the casing, these blocks being of a height substantially equal to the thickness of the carrier chain, thereby substantially continuing the plane of the top of the carrier beyond the carrier path, and thereby insuring against a tilting of the display frame downward after the frame has passed into the space at each end of the apparatus. A tilting effect in the opposite direction will not affect the operation, since such tilting would carry the roller 21 in a direction toward the member 25 and thereby bring said roller into its proper position with respect to its channel.

The display card frames are preferably provided with leaf springs 40 at points which permit of contact between their outer faces and the side walls of the housings 10 and 10a during the movement of the frames therein. These springs may be positioned either at the top or at the bottom or at both points as may be desirable, or the springs on one side of the frame be made at the bottom, while those on the opposite sides may be at the top. The springs are secured to the frames in any suitable manner, the securing point being at the front of the springs. The springs may be positioned either at the forward or at the rearward end of the frame, or, if desired, the frame may be provided with springs at both ends, or the arrangement may provide for springs at one end on one side and at the other end on the opposite side.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. In advertising apparatus, an endless carrier having its travel path on lines spaced from each other, a display card frame carried by and movable with the carrier, the point of carrier support being approximately midway of the length of the frame, guide channels positioned at the side of the frame opposite the carrier for supporting the frame against lateral swaying, said channels being of a length less than the length of the travel path, and normally-stationary means located within the travel path and capable of acting as a shifting elementfor positively repositioning the frame in its proper path upon termination of its movement through the unsupported travel Zone.

2. In advertising apparatus, an endless carrier, a display card frame carried by and movable with the carrier throughout its travel path, the point of carrier support being approximately midway of the length of the frame, and means positioned on the opposite side of the frame from the carrier for .preventing swaying movement of the frame during a major portion of its travel, the frame being unsupported laterally in either direction at said opposite edge against swaying during the remaining portion of its travel, and means located within the travel path and capable of acting as a shitting element for repositioning said opposite edge of the frame in its proper' path upon the termination of its movement through the unsupported travel Zone.

3. In an advertising apparatus, an endless carrier, a display card frame supported by and movable with said carrier, a roller mounted at the side ot said frame opposite -the carrier, said roller and the connecting point of the frame and carrier being located in axial alinement substantially7 midway of the length of the frame, .a guide channel for said roller having one of its walls projecting into the path of pivotal movement of the frame, the yother wall of the channel being positioned without such pivotal path, said latter wall being of a length less than the length of the travel path of the carrier whereby said trame will be unsupported against swaying movement during a predetermined portion ot the trame travel, and means for repositioning said roller in its channel upon the termination of its movement through the unsupported travel zone.

4. In advertising apparatus, an endless earrier having its travel path on lines spaced from each other, a display cardframe carried by and movable with the carrier throughout its travel path, the point of carrier support being approximately midway of the lengt-h of the frame, guide channels for supporting the edge ot the frame opposite the point ot carrier support, said channels being interrupted in the direction of the length thereof to provide a travel Zone within which said opposite frame edge is tree to sway laterally, and a switching element positioned and operative within said Zone and normally obstructing the travel path formed by the channels for shifting said 'unsupported edge into the succeeding guide-channel.

In advertising apparatus, the combination with an endless traveling carrier, and

spaced rotatable members for controlling the travel path ot the carrier, ot a display card frame carried by and movable with said carrier, means tor normally supporting the edge of said frame opposite the point of carrier support against swaying movements intermediate said rotatable members, said means terminating adjacent said members whereby said edge of the frame will be unsupported when adjacentsaid members to form a travel Zone within which said edge is tree to sway, and a. positioning element tor the trame located within t-he travel zone and operative successively on the frame before and after the passing of the latter around a rotatable member in its path of travel, said element being capable of acting as a shitting element for the trame.

6. In advertising apparatus, the combination with an endless traveling Carrier, and spaced rotatable members for controlling the travel path of the carrier, of a display card frame carried by and movable with said carrier, means for normally supporting the edge of said frame opposite the point of carrier support against swaying movements intermediate said rotatable members, said means terminating adjacent said members whereby said edge ot the frame will be unsupported when adjacent said members to form a travel zone within which said edge is free to sway, and a positioning element for the frame located within the travel zone and operative successively on the tame before and after the passing of the latter around a rotatable member in its path ot travel, said element being capable of acting as a shifting element for the frame, said positioning element normally extending across the path of travel of the trame intermediate the rotatable members and form# witnesses.

JOSEPH J. SLEEPER. lVitnesses A ARTHUR L. BRYANT,

J. GRANvILLE Mnrnns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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