US563808A - Revoluble sign and reflector therefor - Google Patents

Description

(NdMndei.) 2 sheets-sneer 1. H. P. SCHWARTZ. RBVOLUBLB SGN AND RBPLBGTOR THBREPOR.

No. 563,808. Patented July 14, M596.

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(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. AH. F. SCHWARTZ.

REVGLUBLE SIGN AND RBFLEGTOR THEREEOR.

Patented July 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries,

HENRY F. SCHVARTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

REVOLUBLE SlGN AND REFLECTOR THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,808, dated July 14, 1896.

Application filed April 7, 1896. Serial Nm 586,489. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. SCHWARTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revoluble Signs and Reflectors Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a revoluble sign for use on street-cars to designate the route and provided with a reflector whereby either face of the sign may, when exposed at night, be illuminated, and in such connection it relates particularly to the construction and arrangement of such a sign and its reflector.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a revoluble sign for streetcars which may be simply and easily constructed and operated, said sign having a reflecting hood whereby either face may be illuminated when exposed at night g second, to provide in such a sign a frame secured to the car, the sign being removable from said frame, a key adapted to revolve the sign in the frame, miter-gears adapted to revolve said key, and a hand-Wheel or lever adapted to revolve the gears; third, to provide in such a sign having the frame, the sign revoluble in the same, and the key adapted to revolve the sign, of a shaft operating mitergears to revolve the key, said shaft being provided With two liat faces revolving between two leaf-springs and adapted to hold in required position the shaft, so that the sign may be turned to required position, and, fourth, to provide in such a sign a reflecting-hood removably secured to the frame above the sign.

My invention consists of a revoluble sign and reflector for street-cars constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the sign and rejliector embodying features of my invention and illustrating the arrangement and construction of the same when in position upon the roof of the car. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the sign and reflector detached from the car, a portion of the hood being broken awayto more clearly illus 5 5 trate the construction and arrangement of the reiiector. Fig. 3 isa top or plan view, enlarged, of the reflector, illustrating its connection with the roof of the car. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, enlarged, of the reflector, the 6o sign, and a portion of the roof of the car. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, enlarged, illustrating in detail the key, its connection with the sign, and the miter-gear secured to the end of the key. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sec 65 tion, enlarged, illustrating in detail the liattened shaft, the hand-wheel adapted to operate the same, and the springs adapted to hold the shaft in required position; and Fig.

7 is aside elevation, enlarged, of the end sup- 7o port for the sign in the frame, illustrating locking means for securing the sign in the support.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the front or rear end of the roof of a car, to which 7 5 is secured by means of brackets a a bent iron rod b, the ends of which pass through the brackets a, and are secured therein by means of nuts b. Upon this rod b is suspended an open frame d, of rectangular outline, Within 8o which frame a signboard e is adapted to revolve. The sign-board e is provided at one end With a pin e', adapted to enter the re cessed support f formed in the frame. The construction of this support f is illustrated S5 particularly in Fig. 7, and the support is provided ivith a locking-arm f', pivoted to the support above the recess f2 therein and adapted to be secured down upon the upper end of said recess by a spring-catch f3, fitting 9o under the lower edge of the support f. This, While the preferred form, maybe modified by making the arm f and catch f3 in one piece Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and in such modiiicatiou the 95 arm f may be secured directly to the support Without pivoting, the movement oi' the arm being effected through the natural resiliency of the metal of which both arm and catch are made. At the other end of the sign c is roo cut a socket e'-, preferably square in crosssection, in which socket a square key g is adapted to lit. This key g is formed on one end of a shaft g', mounted to revolve in a 5]' and having at one end a mitcr-gear h2,-

meshing with the miter-gear y2. The other end of the shaft 71, is provided with a handwheel 7b3, or similar operating device, by means of which the shaft 7i' may be revolved. The shaft 7L is flattened, as at l# and his, the flattened portion resting between two leafsprings fi, secured to and projecting from the bracket h. These springs i yield slightly to permit the turning of the shaft 7L', but act as a stop or brake upon the shaft to hold it in one of two positions, which correspond to the two operative positions occupied by the sign e when turned through the key g, gears g2 and h2, and shaft 71.'. The construction and arrangement o i' the springs 'i and flattened shaft h' are illustrated in detail at Fig. G. Sxupported upon the bar Z), directly above the frame d and sign e, is placed a hood or reiiector 7c, of any suitable retlecting material, such as bright tin, pasteboard, or other light flexible material. rlhis hood is inclosed at its ends and supported by the two rigid plates m, one of which is pivotally secured, as at m', to said bar Z), While the other is recessed, as at m2, to receive the bar b, to which it is locked by means oi a removable spring-catch m3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

Projecting through an opening in the rear of the hood k are one or more incandescent lamps n, the light of which is collected by the hood and thrown upon the exposed face of the sign e.

catch m3 being released to permit of the movement of the other end of the hood away from the bar b. The hood is protected or partially inelosed by a bent rod 0, arranged parallel with the rod b and extending around the dome of the hood. IVheu the sign is used These lamps may be reached by lift-` ing the hood upon its pivotal support m', they upon a trolley-car, the rope p of the trolley will rest upon. the two braces or rods Z) and i without touching the hood 7s, as illustrated in Fig. 4c of the drawings.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in the mechanical construction'of certain of the elements of my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for instance,l instead of flattening the shaft h a flat-faced collar may be placed on the shaft between the springs t'.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a revoluble sign and reflector theretor, the combination of a frame, a sign-board revolving therein and removable therefrom. a key adapted to revolve the sign and supported in said frame, means for turning said key, and a reiiectingel'iood connected with said frame, substantially as and for the pur poses described.

2. In a revoluble sign and reiiector therefor, the combination with a reflecting-hood. of a frame supporting said hood, a sign-board revolving in said frame and removable therefrom, a key adapted to revolve said sign. means for actuating said key and means t'or braking the revolution of said key to thereby present the face of the sign in operative position, substantially as and 'for the purposes de scribed.'

3. Ina revoluble sign, the combination ot a frame, a sign-board revolved therein and removable therefrom, a key adapted to revolve said sign and supported in said :trame and means for actuating and braking said key, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY F. SCIUVARTZ. lVitnesses:

J. VALTER DoUGLAss, THOMAS M.` SMITH.

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