US1692633A - Adjustable menu or advertising device - Google Patents

Description

J. DICOMES ET AL ADJUSTABLE MENU 0R ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1928 Patented Nov. zo, 192e.r

UNITED STATES 1,692,633 PATENT OFFICE'.

JAMES DICOMES AND PETER JANOS, 01?'A BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE MENU 0R ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed June 23, 1928. Serial No. 287,670.

device, in which a large number and great variety of signs may be displayed or exhibited in a muohsmaller and neater structure than has heretofore been possible.

Our novel device is of the type wherein the signs or indicia arecarried on flexible strips or ribbons, adapted to be rolled from one spindle to another and vice versa, and another obje-ctV of the invention is ourj particular novel arrangement of spindles, and operating handles, lby which arrangement we are enabled to accomplish the desirableresults above briefiy mentioned.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of spring .tension means, each such means exerting tension or friction simultaneously on each pair of spindles, to control the rotation thereof and to prevent too-free rotation thereof.

The above and other objects of the invention, details ofconstruction, combination of parts, and advantages, will beY hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring tothe drawings, illustratinga preferred embodiment of our present invention, f

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of our novel display device; Y Fig. 2 is a side elevation of our novel advertising display device; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3,-3 of Fig. 1. c l

Referring now to the drawings, for a detailed description of the invention, its construction and operation, 1 designates a back having lprojecting partitions or walls, 2, l3 and 5, the partition 4 being secured to the top and bottom ofthe device, these partitions dividing the device into three vertical com- `partments A, B and C. A frame 6 is aixed to the side walls of the device by screws 7, v

this frame carrying a pane of glass 8 separated into a plurality of sight openings by horizontal and vertical strips or bands 9, which strips may be painted on the glass, or

applied in any other suitable or desirable t manner.

Arranged in the compartment A are a plurality of pairs of split spindles 10, having a bearing at one end in the partition 3, and extending through the partition 2, handles 11 beingprovided topturn the spindles 10 in a desired direction, in order that the yflexible strip or ribbon 12 may be wound from one l to the other. The ends of the ribbons 12 are inserted through the splits in the spindles, thus affording ample holding capacity.` It

' will be appreciated that any type of handle may be utilized, such as a wing handle, keytype, or any desired form, the knurled handles herein shown being for illustrative 'purposes only.

A collar 13 is pro-vided on each spindle to I prevent end-play of said spindles. As will be readily understood, each pair of these spindles carries one flexible strip or ribbon, on which may be displayed suitable characters or notations, the drawingof the present application illustrating ythe ribbons as carrying ,variousv food articles. Each ribbon 12 is led from the spindles 10, over guide rods 14, which are arranged in front of the spindles 10 and are closely adjacent to the glass 80, so that the ribbon will be carried in a flat formation toward the front of the device and clearly visible. v

The guide rods 14 preferably extend eny tirely across the front of the device, serving as guide rods in each of the three compartments A, B and C.

In order to prevent toofree rotation of the spindles 10, I provide, on the outer side ofthe wall or partition 2, astud or boss 15, offset from a point between each two handles 11, and around this stud15 is positioneda U-shaped spring 16, having arcuate or curved arms adapted to bear upon the spindles 10, or upon the collars carried thereby, and exert tension thereon. These springs will hold the spindles in any position to which they may be rotated, thus insuring pro-per alinement of the characters on the ribbons 12 with theirl respective side openings. s

A serious difficulty with prior devices of this character, especially when utilized as a restaurantmenmhas been the paucity of inlio Yan

studs 15, and for the same purpose;

formation carried by said devices, which must ot' necessity be relatively small, neat and attractive. Prior devices, therefore, have been extremely limited in their scope and usefulness, and were'unable to convey all of the information that the restaurant prof prietor or manager would like to convey to his patrons or customers.

This is particularly true in the case of menus, where a certain meat,fsuchas roast beef, for example, may be served With any one of dozens of vegetables or sauces, different'combinations calling for different prices, and the like. In my present device, however, it is possible to display any desired meat', fish or desired article through one sight opening, and to display, through an alined sight opening, the particular vegetable, sauce or the like which is served with that particular article on a certain day or time, and also to display, through another alined sight opening, the price of that particular combination,"all of these features and elements being contained in a small, compact, neatand attractive device. able results through our particular arrangement of ribbon-carrying spindles, together with the arrangement of unitary guide rods extending the full Width of the front ot the device.

In carrying out this arrangement We provide, inthe compartment C, a plurality of pairs of'split spindles 1T, having a bearing at one end in the partition 4, and passing through the partition or Wall 5, a collar 18 being provided on. each spindle, and each spinelle havin a knob or handle 19 on its outer end. Springs 20 and studs 21 are provided, in a manner `'similar to the` springs uid ible strip 0r ribbon 22 is carried byV each pair of spindles 1T and is adapted to be Wound from one to the other, or vice versa, by means of the knobs or handles 19, and to aline the characters carried by said strip with its respective sight opening. l Y Located directly behind the` spindles 17, and. parallel therewith, are a plurality of pairs of spindles 28, extending under the` artition Ll, which is fixed in the top and bot om of the device and does not extend tothe back 1, saidspindles 23 having a bearingat one end in the' partition 3 and extending through the Wall 5 and havingr knobsor handles 24nd their outer end, by means of which the flexible strip or ribbon 25 may be wound from one` spindle 23 to the other, or vice versa, vin its compartment B, Springs 26 and studs 27 are provided for the spindles 23 similar to `the springsand studs above described, to prevent `too-free rotation of the spindles1 23.

It will thus be noted, that our novel arrangement of spindles and handles orknobs, space is Vconserved to a great degree', enabling the displayingof a great variety offinorma- `We are enabled to achieve these desir-` handles 11 on the left hand side ot' the device will be rotated untilV the Roast beef appears behind its sight opening then one of the handlesZ/ on the right hand side of the device Will be rotated untill the Mashed potatoes likewise appears behind its` sight opening; and then one of the-handles 19 will be rotated until the proper price, flel-appears behind its sightopening, all of the'flexible strips or ribbons being guided in close, ilat alinement by means of 7the unitary guide rods'll.` y i lt will thus be apparentl that by utilizing only three, ribbons or flexible strips, a. greatvariety of dishes or combinations canbe indicated or displayed, and that `by having a plurality of such `sets of three ribbons superposed,

an infinite variety of combinations can be displayed in the one' device, being lreadily changeable or adjustable, and being permanent in itstnat-ure andconstruction; Brackets or straps 28 are illustrated in dotted lines, vby means 'of which theA device can carried from place to place. If it isdesired tostand vthe device on" topof ac'ounter, :the

lbrackets 28 will be dispensed with, ofcourse.

Our present device is sim le, eilicient, possessed of many advantageouseatures, 4and since We believe the same is novel, We have therefore claimed the same inthe present application. i

A guard, illustrated indotted lines atV 35,

is applied at each en d of the casing, to cover, conceal and protect the springs, only the handles projecting beyondthis guard or cover pate.` g V'ThileWehavel necessarily described our present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that we may vary the size, shape and arrangement ofl parts` Within reasonablywide limits Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. l Y

' "Our invention is furtherdescribed and defined in the form 'of claims as follows; 1

` "1. na device ofthe kind described, a easing a plurality of partitions dividing said casing into Vat leastthree vertical compartments, a pair'ofspindles in each end compartment, a pair of spindles in the central compartment; said last air of spindles being parallel withandlofsu cientlength toextend directly in back ofthe spindlesrin one end compartment, a flexible' strip "carried by each each of said flexible strips passing over said guide rods and being fed past said sight openings, and means, operab e from the ends of said casing to selectively Wind said flexible strips from one spindle to the other. 2. In a device of the kind described, a casinfr caing into at least three vertical compartments, a pair of spindles in each end compartment, a pair of spindles in the central compartment, said last pair of spindles being parallel With and of sufficient length to extend directly in back of the spindles in one end compartment, a flexible strip carried by each pair of spindles, the front of said casing having alined sight openings therein, guide rods extending the full length of said casing and in close proximity to said sight openings, each of said flexible strips passing over said guide rods and being fed past said sight openings, means operable from one end of said casing to Wind said flexible strip from one spindle to the other in one end compartment, and means on the opposite end of said casing to selectively Wind said flexible strips in the end and central compartments from one spindle to the other, and a plurality of U-shaped springs having arcuate ends, each spring being adapted to exert desired friction upon each pair of spindles.

3. In a device of the kind described, a casa plurality of partitions dividing said ing, a plurality of partitions ldividing said casing into at least three vertical compartments, a pair of spindles in each end compartment, a pair of spindles in the central compartment, said last pair .of spindles being parallel With and of suflicient length to extend directly in back of the spindles in one end compartment, a. flexible strip carried by each pair of spindles, the front of said casing having alined sight openings therein, guide rods extending the full length of said casing and in close proximity to said sight openings, each of said flexible strips passing over said guide rods and being fed past said sightopenings, means operable from one end of said casing to Wind said flexible strip from one spindle to the other in one end compartment, means on the opposite end of said casing to selectively Wind said flexible strips yin the end and central compartments from one spindle to the other, a plurality of Usshaped ysprings having arcuate ends', each spring being adapted to exert desired friction upon each pair of spindles, anda cover plate at each end of said casing, concealing and pro tecting said springs.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification.

JAMES DicoMEs. PETER JANos.

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