US231596A

US231596A - marshall

Info

Publication number: US231596A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1880-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1897-08-24

Description

(No Model.)

W. P'. MARSHALL. Combined Door Plate, Gard Receiver, and Indicator.

No. 231,596. Patented Aug. 24,1880.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

WILLIAM P. MARSHALL, OF LOGANSPOR'I, INDIANA.

COMBINED DOOR-PLATE, CARD-RECEIVER, AND INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,596, dated August 24,. 1880.

Application filed June 23, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM I?. MARsnALL, of Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Door-Plate, Card-Receiver, and Indicator 5 and I do here by declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to nia-ke and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in. combined door-plates, card-receivers, and iudicators; and it consists in the combination of a frame to receive the name, a drawer into which visiting-cards are to be dropped, and indicators which inform callers whether the inmates of the house are at home or absent, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

rIhe object of my invention is to provide an indicator for persons who receive visitors, and which indicator will inform the callers whether the person or persons are at home to receive them or not, and which will thus prevent the door-bell from being rung and the visitors from unnecessary waiting or alighting from their carriages. Y

Figure l is a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

A represents a suitable cast-iron frame, which has either secured to its top edge or cast with it in a single piece the door-plate B, in which the name is to be placed in any suitable manner. Theframe A below this door-plate projects outward a suitable distance, so as to form a case or box, and in the front side of this 00X are made two openings, C, which are covered over by glass plates. Just back of these two openings are placed two revolving indicators, which are entirely separate and distinct from each other. Each one of these indicators has any desired number of sides or plates, and each plate has painted, engraved, or otherwise marked thereon any desired names or words. The upper one of these indicators is preferably provided with the names of any desired number of the residents in the house, and the lower one is provided with such words as At home, Not

at home,77 Absent from the city,77 or any others that may be preferred. These words on the lower indicator should be made sufciently large to be read across the sidewalk,

(No model.)

so that it will save visitors the trouble of getting out of their carriages and going up the door-steps, ringing the bell, and waiting for a reply.

The shaft of each one of these indicators is provided with a spiral spring at one end to push the indicator against the opposite end of the frame, so that the indicator will be held in any position to which it may be adjusted by frictional contact alone.

Each indicator is provided with a lsquare shank upon its end, so that a key can be applied to it, and thus turn it in any desired position, so as to show any one of its sides or plates.

In the back part of the frame A is placed a removable 4cardreceiver, D, to receive the lvisiting-cards, which drawer is provided with a suitable lock, clasp, or fastening` of any kind that maybe preferred. Through the top ot' the frame is madea suitable opening, through which the cards can be dropped, and which opening has a iiange formed all around it, so that water will not run readily into the hole. Over this hole is placed a hinged cover, G.

`Visitors upon going to the house and seeing that the person whom they called to see is not at home can drop their cards in the card' receiver, and the cards will be securely kept until the persons return home.

My invention may be attached tothe door, to the side of the door-frame, or to any other suitable support on the outside of the house.

I am aware that indicators for offices, express companies, and other suoli. purposes have been provided with revolving cylinders or signs of diiferent kinds; but in no case have the parts been combined and arranged to operate as here shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination of the plate A, frame A', door-plate B, secured to. or cast therewith at the top edge, a removable card-receiver, D, placed in the back part of the frame and covered over by the door G, and the two revolving indicators, which are placed just behind the openings C in the frame A and in front of the card-receiver, substantially as shown. Y In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of June, 1880.

Witnesses: WILLIAM I. MARSHALL.

BENJ.- F. LOUTHAIN, HENRY WETMOEE. i

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