US359639A - Monument or sign-holder - Google Patents

Description

(NoMbdeL) J. K. P. SHELTON.

MONUMENT 0R SIGN HOLDER.

No. 359,639. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

N. PETERS. F fiiflolflhogmphur. Washin ton. D. C.

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PATENT JAMES K. P. SHELTON, OF GASTON, ALABAMA.

MONUMENT OR SIGN-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.359,6'39, dated March 22, 1887. Application filed May 24, 1886. Serial No. 203,135. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it mayconcern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES K. 1?. SnnLToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gaston, in the county of Sumter and State of Alabama, have invented certain newaud useful Improvements in Monuments or Sign Holders or Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. y

This invention relates to certain improvements in monuments, tombstones, sign-holders, guide'posts, and similar devices constructed from cast metal, and relates to certain features of construction, as will be hereinafter particularly pointed out.

Figure 1 is a front view of a sign-holder or monument embodying myinvention, the cover or shield being raised to expose the inscription. Fig. 2 is a similar View of a modified construction. Fig. 3 is an'edge view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4c 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front view of a different construction. Fig. 6 shows another modification, particularly adapted as a sign or guide post.

In the drawings, Arepresents the main body portion of the monument or sigu-holder,which may be of any desired shape or form, and upon the face of which may be placed or formed any desired inscription, sign, or information. This portion A is supported upon one or more legs, B-there being two shown in Figs. 1 and 2- expanded at theirlower ends to form feet I) b, in order to facilitate their attachment to any desired object, or to form acomparativel y large base or supportshould they beinserted into the earth. These legs are provided with strengthening flanges or webs 0, extending from the feet b up to or a little above the lower edge of the body portion A.

V D represents a forwardly and outwardly projecting flange surrounding the body portion A of the monument or sign-holder, and serving both to give a neat and finished appearance to the monument, and also to protect the face of the monument and the inscription thereon from being defaced or disintegrated by storms.

In Fig. l I have shown a construction of my invention, in which the main body portion A is provided with a box-like receiver, E, formed by an outwardly-projecting flange, e, which is arranged preferably centrally of the part A and a short distance inside the flange D.

It is frequently customary to place a photo graph or other memento of a deceased person upon a tombstone or within a cavity formed for that purpose therein, and a construction of my invention, such as shown in Fig. 1,'is particularly adapted for this purpose. The

inscription usual in such cases, together with the photograph or other memento, may be at tached to a plate, F, of any desired material and placed within the receiver E, the wall or outwardly-projecting flange 6 being rabbeted for this purpose, and, if desired, a glass plate may be secured in front of plate F, it being held in place in any desired manner; or the inscription may be attached in any manner directly to the body A, which forms the rear wall of the receiver E. V

I represents ahinged cover or shield adapted to swing against the outer edge of the flange e and close the open face of the receiver E. It may be provided with a hasp, .T, adapted to pass over an eye or staple carried by the main body portion of the monument, in order that the cover may be locked.

K K are perforated ears or lugs, preferably formed integrally with the other parts of the monument, and to which the cover I may be hinged, it being provided with lugs or ears 6 for that purpose.

A device of the above-described construction may be used not only asza tombstone, but also very advantageously as a sign or showcase, in which case the box portion E is made of convenient depth to receive the articles desired to be exhibited. XVhen used for this purpose, the shield or cover I may be entirely removable, it being only used at night or at such other times as it is desired to protect the articles contained within the box or case from theft or injury. It will be seen that a showcase of the above-described character affords great protection to the articles contained therein, as it would be practically impossible to break into the case or receiver after it has once been closed and locked, from the fact of all the parts being formed from metal. A show-case of this character may therefore be left exposed during the night, whereas it is now customary to move such show-cases into some building for their further protection.

When a construction such as last described is employed as a tombstone or monument, the

spacebetween the flanges D and e may be ornamented in any desired manner, the flange D in such cases protecting the ornamental work, while the flange e and the cover I, if used, protect the inscription within the case or receiver E.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another form of my invention, in which the sign or inscription holder or case E is circular in form. In this case but a single leg, B, need be employed, the base or foot portion thereof being of sufficient size to give asupport therefor. A monument or sign holder of this form may be formed either with or without a cover, as may be desired.

In Fig. 6 another form of my invention is shown, which is particularly adapted for use as a sign or guide post. The box-like receiver in which is placed the board or plate containing the information and directions given is preferably rectangular in form, and is usually left open or is simply covered by glass or some other transparent material.

Any one of the forms of myinvention herein described may be cheaply constructed, and is practicallyindestructible. They may be made from any desired metal, though for ordinary purposes east-iron, galvanized to prevent its rusting, will be found desirable, as possessing the requisite of strength, durability,and cheapness.

I am aware that metallic signs and signposts have been heretofore employed. I am also aware that metallic monuments are well known; and I am further aware that metallic picture-holders provided with hinged covers or doors and adapted to be inserted into cavities formed in tombstones of stone or other material have been heretofore used, and I disclaim all such older and well-known constructions; but such earlier constructions are so expensive that their use has been limited entirely to monuments, as either they were too low for sign-posts or show-cases, or an expensive base was necessary, which would render them too heavy and clumsy for the last-referred to uses. These objections are overcome in monuments, show-cases, or sign-posts of the character herein described, which may be made cheaply, and are of such portable character as to be capable of easy transportation and frequent removals. By forming the legs with the expanded-feet portions 1), the device is adapted to be supported on the surface of the ground, or to be planted therein, the feet in either case supporting the part A in an upright position. Great security to the contents of the receptacle or receiver E is also afforded by forming it integral with the body A, as it is impossible in my construction to remove receptacle E without taking the whole device, and it is also impossible to effect an entrance thereto except through its open-face portion, which may be protected by a cover of any desired strength and security.

IVh at I claim isl. The herein-described monument or signholder, it consisting of the main body portion A, the flange D, projecting forward from the part A,and the box-receiver E,having its walls projecting forward from the part A and cast therewith, said part E being surrounded at the top and sides by the flange D, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the metallicplate or main body portion A, of the forwardly-projecting flange D, cast with the said plate, the forwardly-projecting walls 0 of the box-receiver'E, the forwardly-projecting hinge-lugs K, all cast integrally, the legs 13, and strengthening-webs for the legs, substantially as described.

3. The herein-described monument or signholder having the legs B, the strengthening webs or ribs 0, transverse to the legs, the feet I), the back or main plate portion A, and the boxlike receiver E, the lateral walls of which project forward from the part A, all of said parts being cast integrally, substantially as described.

4. A monument or sign-ho1der having the main body portion A, the flange D, surrounding said main body portion, and the box-like receiver formed by the flange e, arranged inside flange D,and at a distance therefrom, substantiall y as set forth.

5. The herein-described monument or signholder, it consisting of the legs 13 B, the main body portion A, the flange D, surrounding the main body portion, the box-like receiver E,inside flange D, and the perforated lugs K, all cast in one piece, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES K. P. SHELTON.

Witnesses:

A. E. MOORE, I T. MITCHELL.

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