US2141514A - Apparatus designed for the successive exhibition of dioramas - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1937 P. A. J. CARRE ET AL APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR THE SUCCESSIVE EXHIBITION OFDIORAMAS I Dec. 27, 1938.

Dec. 27,- 1938. P. A. J. CARRE ET AL APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR THE SUCCESSIVE EXHIBITION OF DIORAMAS Filed June 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVEN TOH 5 Phz'Zz' w Alan's am care BI w. 510

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Patented Dec. 27, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS DESIGNED FOR THE SUCCES- SIVE. EXHIBITION OF DIORAMAS Philippe Alexis Jean Carr and Jacques Louis Alexis Maurice Carr, Paris, France Application June 2, 1937, Serial No; 146,046

v In France June 18, 1936 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for successively exhibiting a series of dioramas by an arrangement which is continuous and automatic in its operation so as to bring another 5 diorama into position to be viewed after a preceding one shall have been exhibited;

A further object is to provide dioramas which are pliable and foldable.

Again, it is an object to provide an exhibiting apparatus having a storage space for the folded dioramas, an exhibiting chamber having an opening, and means for bringing the dioramas from the storage space into the exhibiting chamber, means to unfold the dioramas for exhibition purposes and thereafter re-fold them and return them to the storage space.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation (parts being in section) of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of same;

Fig. 3 shows the back side of the apparatus the wall of which has been removed; 7

Fig. 4 is a detail view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portio of the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken just above the plane containing the elements l4.

According to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus is made of a box I, the front wall 2 of which is provided with an opening 3. This box has two horizontal partitions 5 dividing same into three compartments 6,1. 8. The compartment 1 is 35 used as a storage space for the folded dioramas 9a 9b, 9f, and'the compartment 8 as an exhibition chamber containing an unfolded diorama l0.

The dioramas are made of a front frame II and a back plate l2 connected by the means of the folding (bellows-like) part I3. To the said frame I I and plate I 2 are fixed one or several intermediary planes I211. representing the scenery, the said planes being parallel or not to the end planes, and are supported by being fastened to the articulated or folding part l3. The intermediate planes are adapted to assume the desired positions when the diorama is unfolded by opening the plate l2 and the frame II, and to be folded again when the plate l2 and the frame I arebrought near one another.

On the frame near the vertical edges, are fixed two hooks l4 directed towards the back face.

On the Vertical side walls of the box are mounted the pairs of sprockets l5, l6; ll, l8, l9 and 20 on which run two chains 2| driven by the said sprockets. The chains-are operated by any suitable known means which will drive a pair or pairs of the sprockets. Each chain 2| has a finger 22 directed towards the inside of the box and designed to engage the hooks l4 borne by the frame H of the diorama 9a, so as to drive same together with the chains 2|. The back plate l2 of the dioramas has on its sides notches 23. Flat springs 24, fixed on the box are provided at their free end with a verticalrod coming into cooperation with the said notches 23 when the diorama is in the exhibition chamber 8, the rods 25 resting then against the fore face of the back plate I2 and thus preventing this last plane from moving forward. On the box are also fixed the spring blades 26 the free end of each of which is bent so as to present a vertical supporting surface. Other spring blades 21 are furthermore fixed on the front wall 2 of the box. Under the lower face of the horizontal partition 5 is arranged an elastic hook 28. 'curtain 29, provided with a spring, not represented in the drawings, which tends to roll it up, is mounted above the opening 3 of the wall 2 of the box, the said curtain when unrolled concealing the said opening. The bar v3t] of the curtain is connected at its ends to hooks 3| sliding in the guideways 32 on the side walls of the box I. Fingers 33, borne by the chains 2|, come into contact with the said hooks in order to unroll the curtain 29 and thus to conceal the opening 3. On the other hand, the hooks are heldin the lowest position to whichthey have been brought by the fingers 33 by means of'hooks 34 hinged at a point 34a and provided with a tail member 35 on which the fingers 33 press to disengage the hooks 34 and 3|. The hooks 34 are moved to their'original position by the action of the spring blades 36.

The horizontal partition 4 is provided in the Vicinity of the frontwall of the box with a surface 3! made of an elastic material, spongy rubber for instance, covered or not with a felt strip 38 making a slight projection 39 above the level of the upper face of the partition 4.

The operation is as follows: The two chains 2|, each of them being driven by one or several sprockets on which they are running, receive a continuous motion and, in the position shown in Fig. 1, the fingers 22, fixed to the chains 2|; are on the vertical part of the chain between the pinions I5 and I6, and above the level of the hook 14 of the diorama 9a contained in the beginning of its horizontal motion, the framev II of the diorama opens the springs 24, which held the back plate of the diorama I55, whichwas in position. The back plate I2 of this last diorama is thus freed from springsii i as the rods 25 no longer are held against it and it movesfforward, pushed by the frame of the following diorama 9a. When the frame II of the diorama to has gone beyond the springs 24, these return to position and when the back plate of the sarne diorama contacts the springs these last engage the notches 23 of the plate and hold it by means of the rods 23. During the continuation of their movement, the chains 2I with their fingers 22 still in engagement in the hooks I4 drive forward the frame I I of the diorama 3a, and since the back plate of the sameis retained by the rods 23, the diorama is thus opened. Shortly before the fingers 22 of the chains 2! reach the pinions II, the back plate of the dioramalt passes beyond the fore edge of the horizontal partition 5, and this diorama falls into the lower storage space. At the same time, the frame II of the diorama 9a passes the spring blades '23 which close again behind it and remain clos ed in order to prevent the diorama from folding backward. When the fingers 22 of the chains 2i have reached the pinion I I, the chains run in another direction, disengage the fingers from the hooks I4 and continue their way. While falling into the storage chamber or spacathe diorama III contacts the springs 27, which are very weak. These springs cause the upper part of the diorama to swing slightly towards the rearmost part of the storage space. Owing to the sprockets IS, the chains changing their direction act through the fingers 22 on the frame II of the diorama having just fallen down, and pushing same cause the whole of the dioramas contained in the storage space to move backward. At the end of this motion, the frame II of the diorama just fallen down comes in engagement at its upper part with the hook 28. This completes one step or cycle of operation of the apparatus. In order to allow this hook to pass easily over the upper edge of the back plate I2; the plate is preferably provided with a notch 28a. The diorama is furthermore maintained in an upright position at its lower position by the slight projection 39 of the felt 38.

In order to prevent the changes of dioramas being seen from outside, the opening 3 of the box I is advantageously closed bya curtain inthe course of the operation. For this purpose, the fingers 33 are fixed to the chains at such a point that they meet with the hooks 3I shortly before or at the moment at which begins the folding of the exhibited diorama. The said fingers 33 come into engagement with the hooks 3! fixed to the rod 30 of the curtain 29 at the moment that the chains are running over the pinions I1. Upon downward movement, the fingers 33 lower the curtain and when they arrive at their lowest position, thehooks 3| engage the hooks 34 Owing to the change of direction of the chains running ov t sproc ets 8. the fin s 3 are loos ned equal to the height of the dioramas.

from the hooks 3|, which are still held by the hooks 34. During the continuation of their movement, the fingers 33 press on the tail member 35 of the respective hook 34 at the moment when the new diorama 9a is fully unfolded. The hooks 34 are thus disengaged from the hooks 3!, and the curtain rolls up under the action of its spring to exhibit thediorama 9a (the next one in order).

According to a modification represented. in Fig.

4, the exhibition chamber is provided with two pairs of vertical U-shaped slides 40, 4! the lower end of which is made flush with the upper part of the partition 5, and of a length approximately The distance'between the slides in each pair and between the two pairs is such that the side edges of theframe II and of'the back plate l2 engage the said slides when the diorama is going upfrom the storage space into the exhibition chamber. The pair of slides .40 is connected to the back wall of the box by means of elastic devices, such as springs 43. The pair of slides 4I is connected to the piair of slides 40 by similar springs 44. Hooks 45 '-are also arranged. to prevent the pair of slides 4I moving forward. The box I is also provided with suitable guiding means, not represented, allowing the said slides 40, 4| to run in a parallel direction to the partition 5.

The operation is as follows: When. the diorama 3a is engagedbythe'side edges of both its frame I! and back plate I2 in the slides, the fingers of the chains 2| drive forward, in the same way as previously, the frame II and with same the slides 40. The diorama is opened and the slides 40 reach the position Met in which they are held by the springs 26. r The chains furthermore support a snug'actingupon' any system of levers, so as tol'oo's'en" the hooks 45 maintaining the slides 4| at any given position. The hooks 45 being loosened, the springs 44 drive the slides M to -'their'position 4Ia, thus folding the diorama, which then falls down into the store. The same or other fingers Operate somewhat later upon another system of levers removing the springs -26 having retained the slides 40 into thefrontposition 400.. Therefore thewhole of the two slides returnfto the starting position and are ready to receive another diorama.

" Havingnow described this invention and in which manner same is to be performed, what we claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having an exhibition chamber provided with an opening to view a diorama when in the exhibition chamber, said casing having a storage chamber, a plurality of foldable dioramas located in folded condition in said storage chamber, means for bringing a folded diorama from the storage chamber into the exhibition chamber, means to unfold the diorama in the exhibition chamber to present it for view through the viewing' opening, and means to refold the diorama and return it to the storage chamber.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having an exhibition chamber provided with an opening to view a diorama when in the exhibition chamber, said casing having a storage chamber, a plurality of foldable dioramas located in folded condition in said storage chamber, means for bringing a folded diorama from the storagechambei' into the exhibition chamber, means to unfold the diorama in the exhibition chamber topresent it for View throughithe viewfrom the storage space to and along the exhibiing" Opening, and means to refold the cream and return it to the storage chamber, a curtain for the viewing opening, means fo-r -moving'said curtain-to uncover said viewing opening-wine the diorama is in condition for jexhibitior'r, and

means to drawthe curtain over 'sa 'id opening at other times. I

- serially carrying the dioramas'in folded condition from the storage space to the exhibition chamber and back to the storage space, means for unfolding the dioramas while in the exhibition chamber for viewing purposes and thereafter refolding the same to beconveyed back to the storage space, andmeans actuated by said conveyor for drawing the curtain over the 'sightopening While a diorama is' beingtransferred from .ithe exhibition space to the storage space and another diorama is being made ready in the exhibition chamber.

4. In apparatus 'of the character described, a box having a partition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, .and having a sight opening for the exhibition chamber, a curtain, means continuously tending to maintain the curtain in position to uncover the sight opening,

a set of foldable dioramas stored in said storage space in folded condition, an endless conveyor for serially carrying the dioramas in folded condition from the storage space to the exhibition chamber and back to the storage space, means for unfolding the dioramas while in the exhibition chamber for viewing purposes and thereafter refolding the same to be conveyed back to the storage space, and means actuated by said conveyor for drawing the curtain over the sight opening while a diorama is being transferred from the exhibition space to the storage space and another diorama is being made ready in the exhibition chamber, said last named means in-- cluding hooks on the curtain and, members on said conveyor to engage said hooks, latches to engage said hooks in their down position to hold the curtain, said latches having means for engagement by said members on further movement of said members to effect a release of said curtain latches.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing it into a storage space .and an exhibition chamber, a set of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas in folded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, and a bellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining the intermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chain conveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying folded dioramas tion chamber, and means in the exhibition chamber to engage and restrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is being pulled along by said conveyor to open the diorama in the exhibition chamber.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber,

aset'offfoldable'fioramas in said casing, means toholddioramas in folded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least oneintermediate frame, a bellows connecting thefront frame and back plate andsustainirigithe intermediate frames, hooks on said frontframe, and

endless chain 'conveyor having' elements to enbeing made ready, toexhibit andto uncover the window when a hibition, I

7. In apparatus of the character describedQa casing having a horizontal partition dividing'it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, a set of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas in folded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining the interdiorama is in condition for exmediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an

endless chain conveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying folded dioramas from the storage space to and along the embition chamber,. means in the exhibition chamber to engage and restrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is being pulled along by said conveyor to open the diorama in the exhibition chamber, said casing having a window to the exhibition chamber, a curtain for covering said window, and means governed by said conveyor for actuating said curtain in timed relation to cover the window while dioramas are being made ready to exhibit and to uncover the window when a diorama is in condition for exhibition, said last named means including means continuously tending to withdraw the curtain from over the window, cooperating means on the curtain and on the conveyor for drawing the curtain over the window during a portion of the movement of the conveyor, and means to hold the curtain over the window for a definite period and then upon further movement of the conveyor to release the curtain.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, a set of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas in folded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining the intermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chain conveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying folded dioramas from the storage space to and along the exhibition chamber, and means in the exhibition chaminthe casing to ,lie in said notches and having rods to engage said back plate, saidspring arms beingreleasable from said back plate upon engagement of thearms-by the front frame of'a succeeding diorama.

9. Inapparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing it into a storage space and an exhibition chamber, a set of fo-ldable dioramas in said casing, means to'hold dioramas in folded condition in said storage space, said dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining the intermediate frames, hooks on said front frame, an endless chain conveyor having elements to engage s'aidhooks for conveying folded dioramas from the storage space to and along the exhibition chamber, means in exhibition chamber to engage and restrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is being pulled along by said conveyor to open thediorama in the exhibition chamber, and means'to hold the front frame-of the diorama in the exhibition chamber when in its open or unfolded position. 1

10. In apparatus of the character described, a casing having a horizontal partition dividing it into a. storage space and an exhibitionchamber, a set of foldable dioramas in said casing, means to hold dioramas each including a front frame, a back plate and at least one intermediate frame, a bellows connecting the front frame and back plate and sustaining the intermediate frames,

hooks on said front frame, an endless chain'conveyor having elements to engage said hooks for conveying folded dioramas from the storage space to and along the exhibition chamber, means in exhibition chamber to engage and restrain the back plate of the diorama while the front frame is being pulled along .by said conveyor to open the diorama in the exhibition chamber, and means to hold the front frame of the diorama in the exhibition chamber when in its open or unfolded position, said last named means comprising yieldable blades. PHILIPPE ALEXIS JEAN CARRE.

JACQUES LOUIS ALEXIS MAURICE CARRIE.

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