US2368167A

US2368167A - Play dater

Info

Publication number: US2368167A
Application number: US474462A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wade P Sheram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-02-02
Filing date: 1943-02-02
Publication date: 1945-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-30

Description

Jan. 30, 1945.

w. P. SHERAM 2,368,167

PLAY DATER Filed Feb. 2, v1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l xaji wr ATTORNEYS Jan. 30, 1945. w. P, SHERAM 2,368,167

PLAY DATER Filed Feb. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'ITDRNEYS Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLAY DATER Wade P. Sheram, Tennille, Ga.

Application February 2, 1943, Serial No. 474,462

2 Claims.

My invention relates to motion pictures, particularly prevues, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved play dater wherein the play dates for the showing of future motion pictures are visually displayed during showing of the prevue so that the dates may be firmly fixed in the public mind. My invention includes a rotary drum to which the play dates are attached and illuminated in such manner as to render the dates readily visible, with the construction such that the drum may be rotated from position to position for associating the play dates with the respective prevues.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top view partly in section, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a box H! of generally rectangular contour in cross section and provided with a Window or opening l2 in its front wall M. This box is provided with a cover I6 hingedly connected therewith at l8. Inside the box I!) is mounted a date announcing drum 20.

In Figure 4, the end walls 22 of the box [0 are provided with openings 24 for supporting a hollow shaft 26. A collar 28 is attached to the inner face of one of the walls 22, as at 30, for securing the shaft 26 againstrotation. A set screw 32 is threaded through the collar 28 for end engagement with the shaft.

The drum comprises end walls 34 having bearings 36secured thereto and loosely supported on the shaft 26. Collars 38 are fixed to the shaft 26 and engage the inner faces of the end walls 34 to restrain the drum from relative longitudinal movement on the shaft 26. A sprocket 40 is mounted loosely on the shaft 26 for connection with a chain 42 passing around a sprocket 44 driven by a motor 46.

The sprocket 40 is fixed to a stop flange 48 which is welded to one of the bearings 36 to fixedly connect the drum 2!] with the sprocket 48. Four notches 50 are provided in the peripheral face of the disk 48, which notches are equally spaced circumferentially of the disk. An arm 52 is pivotally mounted at 54 intermediate its ends on a bracket 56 bolted at 58 to one of the end Walls 22.

A roller 50 is mounted on one end of the arm '52 and is of such diameter as to fit snugly in successive notches 58 for yieldingly latching the drum 20 against rotation. A tension spring 62 is attached to the other end of the arm 52 and is connected with an adjusting screw 64 threaded through a bracket 66 attached to the rearwall 68 of the housing [8.

Inside the drum 20 and fixedly secured to the shaft 26 is a reflector 18 extending the full length of the drum in alignment with the opening l2. Bands 12 are fixed to the reflector l0 and are attached to the shaft 26 for supporting the reflector. A series of lamps 14 is mounted on the reflector in alignment with the opening 12.

The drum 2!! is of generally octagonal contour in cross section with the end walls 34 cut away to provide flat faces 16. These fiat faces are spaced 98 degrees apart circumferentially of the end walls. Slightly curved metal or opaque strips 18 are attached to the rounded faces of the end walls. These strips have their edge margins extending slightly over the fiat faces 16 to provide lips 82 underneath which transparent date strips 84 are inserted to lie against the fiat faces 76. The notches 50 are so arranged as to respectively yieldingly hold the successive strips 84 in alignment with the opening 12.

In Figure l, the strip 84 is painted black on its outer face, as at 86, with areas on the strip unpainted, as at 88, in the form of date announcements. All the strips are formed in the same manner with the exception of the date information. The strips may be easily removed for substitution purposes. The unpainted areas are stippled with white paint on the inside faces of the strips 84.

In Figure 6, the motor 46 is electrically connected with a line wireand with a second wire 92 electrically connected with a contact 94 of a switch 96. The second contact 98 of the switch 96 is electrically connected with the second line wire 180. Thus the motor may be started by pressing the switch 96.

A wire I02 leads from the wire 92 and is electrically connected with a contact I04 of a mercury switch I86 fixed to the arm 52. The second contact I08 of the switch I66 is electrically connected with a wire H8 electrically connected with the wire I00. A wire H2 is connected with a contact H4 of a switch I Hi, this switch being electrically connected with the wire H0. All the lamps 14 are electrically connected with the wire H2. The second lamp wire H8 is electrically connected with the wire 90 and leads to a pilot lamp I20 electrically connected with the wire 92.

In operation, the box In is placed behind a sound screen at any desirable position, but is more effective a few inches above the bottom border of the screen. When prevues are being shown,

the drum 20 may be rotated to bring the an-' nouncement strips 84 into successive registration with the opening I! in accordance with the particular prevues being shown.

To start the motor 46, the switch 96 is closed. Upon slight rotation of the motor, the drum 20 is rotated for turning the stop flange 48 to move the roller 60 out of its retaining notch 50. This will cause the arm 52 to pivot to close the mercury switch I05, after which the motor will continue rotating until the next strip 84 is brought into registration with the opening [2. A this time, the roller 80 will drop into the next notch 50 to break the circuit through the motor 46. The switch H6 is then closed to illuminate the lamps 14, Upon termination of the first prevue showing, the foregoing cycle may be repeated.

The strips 84 are illuminated in such manner as to render the date announcements readily visible. Thus the future dates of pictures to be shown are continuously emphasized during showing of the prevue.

The number of openingsin the drum 20 for the date strips will have to be adapted to each individual theatre as some theatres run a picture longer than others. In other words, the changes of prevues are not alike universally. The flange 48 will have to correspond with the date openings in the .drum.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A play dater device comprising a housing having a window in one side thereof, a horizontal shaft extending through the housing and fixed to the end wall thereof, a hollow drum rotatably mounted on said shaft having date faces at circumferentially spaced intervals, an elongated refiector of arcuate cross section fixed to the shaft within the housing, said reflector extending horizontally the full length of the housing with the medial portion of its convex face secured to the shaft, a plurality of lamp holding sockets fixed to the concave face of the reflector medially of its longitudinal edges, a bearing sleeve rotatably fitted on the shaft and fixed to one end of the drum, and means having operative connection with said sleeve for periodically turning the drum to successively dispose the date faces in display relation with the lamps and thewindow.

2. A drive mechanism for a rotary shaft connected with the drum of a play dating apparatus, comprising an electric motor having driving connection with the shaft, a flange fixed on said shaft having circumferentially spaced recesses in its periphery, a pivotally supported arm having its outer end riding on the periphery of said flange and engaging the recesses therein, means resiliently forcing. the outer end of the arm against the periphery of said flange, and a liquid contact switch carried on the arm and electrically connected with the motor for controlling rotation of the drum.

WADE P. SHERAM.