US1462547A - Interchangeable-character construction - Google Patents

Description

INTER'CHANGEABLE CHARACTER CONSTRUCTI ON` Filed Dec. l2. 1921 Patented July 24, 1923.

MICHAEL J'. HOGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

in'rnncnanenanrn-cnenac'rna oonsraccttvroiv.

,Application filed December 12, V1921. Serial No. 521,582.

To all/whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. HOGAN, a citizen of the-,United States, residing at Chicago,in thecounty of Cook and State oi' lllinoisfha-ve invented new and useful 1mproveniente in Interchangeable Character' Constructions, oi which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exa-ct description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ot this"sp`eci hic-ation.

My invention relates to' interchangeable character construction.

One of the objects ot' my invention is to provide an Vimproved interchangeable character construction which can be worked out in metal so as to give aY solid substantial appearance both from the rontand'fback, such a construction b eing desirable for high grade oiliceuse, banks,'building directories, memorial tablets, and the like.

"A iirtherA object 'of invention is to provide an improved interchangeable chai acterconstruction suitable ior use asindicated above, in which the slot in the metal tabletwill be closed in the rear by an integral part or `the metal tablet, thereby vpre` venting foreign substances from getting into the slot from the rear.`

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means whereby the char` acters may be forced snugly against each otherto close up the spaces or cracks between the characters and hold them snugly in place.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which two embodiments of my invention are shown Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a desk sign;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the plate without end support and characters;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of one of the end supports;

Fig. 4 is a section o-n the line 4 4 ot' Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 ot Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing the back side of one of the characters;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the front side of one of thel characters;

,Fig `9 is a front elevation showing my invention 'as applied: t a building directory; `Fig. 10 is asection on `the line` 10 l0 oif Fig. 9;-and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11 11 oiFig.9. i `Referring first to Figs., 1 to 7 inclusive, the construction yshown therein comprises a pivotally mounted "name-plate or `'delsk-Ilate 10, on which are ,detachably mounted the interchangeably type' blocks 11. `.The ;c:onstruction is such'that the type blocks can be readily reinoved and replaced by others whenever desired, as when a'chang'e inpersonnel is made. The construction such'that it 'can'hardly be noticedi that the characters are not cast as an integralfpart of thesnpporting"plat`e,` the entire appearance 'being solid and substantial looking. i' l The plate'lO may, if desired, be a bronze casting, having a" longitudinally extending slot 12 milled therein to receivefthe hooks'haped shanks 13 oi' the characters 11.*

ln order to provide for the entry of `the hook-shaped Shanks' 13 intothe' angular slot 12, a recess 14 is provided at one entl of the plate 10,' adj acent "the slot 12, "toupermit the entry of the shank 4,13 at this point. After the shank 13 has entered the" recess 14, the type block is dropped downtov en gage the `point of the hook 413 underneath tlie upwardvly `"extending "lip 15 5). .l`he'fcharacters canl` then be slipped along the slot 12 to their proper position on the plate. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the slot 12 is open on the front face of the plate, but is completely closed by the material of the plate in the rea-r of the slot, so that foreign substances cannot enter the slot from the rear of the plate. This construction also gives a neat appearance to the rear of the plate.

ln order to press the type blocks firmly against each other, to close up the gaps or cracks between them, and give the type blocks the appearance of being practically integral with the supporting plate 10, a pair of screws 16 are provided, one at each end of the tablet, each having a` threaded engagement with the supporting plate 10, and having a point bearing on the edge of one of the type blocks 11 (Fig. 6).

These screws 16 serve not only to clamp the type blocks in position, but also serve to pivotally support the plate 10 on the end brackets 17, as the screws extend through the bearing openings 18 in these end brackets.

In using the device, if it is desired to change the name or other characters on the tablet or plate 10, the screws 16 are loosened up to free the type blocks, and the type blocks can then be removed one at a time, b'y sliding them to the right end of the' table or plate 10, until the shanlrs 13 are opposite the recess `14C, when they can be pulled forwardly out of engagement with the plate.

ln Figs. 9, 1() and 11, my invention is shown applied to a directory, such as is used in large office buildings. The construction shown in these gures comprises the large plate 19, which may be of bronze or other suitableV material, the type blocks 20, mounted on the plate 19, and the screws 21 threaded into the plate 19, and bearing on the type blocks 2O for holding them snugly against each other, the construction and operation of these blocks being the same ask the construction and operation of the corresponding partsof the construction previously` described. rlhe heads of the screws 21 may be located in channels 22, in the plate 19, and may have squared ends for engagement with a wrench or other suitable tool `for tightening them up. The heads of these y'screws may be concealed from View by means of a cover plate 23 secured to the plate 19 vby means oitscrews 211, provided with ornamental heads or handles 25, for giving an ornamental appearance to .the board, and for use inl operating the screws 24.

`In this form of my invention, if it is desired to change one of' the names, the cover-plate 23 may be removed giving access to the screws 21, which are then iloosened upto permit the type blocks 20 to be slid longitudinally to the end of the groove where they can be disengaged just as in the construction first described.

While I have shown but two embodiments of my invention, it may be embodied in other forms covered and delined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An interchangeable character construction, comprising a tablet having a slot therein, and a plurality of characters each having a hook-like shank engageable in said slot, said tablet comprising an integral metal plate in which the slot is located, having a longitudinally extending lip overhanging a portion of said slot for retaining said hoolke shank, said slot 'being open on the front face of said integral metal member, the material of said integral metal plate eX- tending across and closing the rear of said slot to prevent foreign material from entering said slot Jr'rom the rear and to provide a iinished appearance `to the rear of said tablet.

2. An interchangeable character construction comprising a plate having a slot therein, and a plurality of characters havingca hook-like shank engageable in said slot, and means for, pivotally supporting said plate and forcing said letters snugly against each other, comprising a support and a pivot screw threaded into said support for pivotally supporting the plate, and for bearing on one of the characters to force it longitudinally oi' said slot.

1n witness whereof, 1 `have hereunto subscribed my name. i

MICHAEL J. HO GAN.

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