US703560A - Vestibule-directory. - Google Patents

Description

Patented July I, 1902.

x F. 05 SILVA. VESTIBULE DIRECTORY.

(Application filed Apr. 8. 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

' 'FRANKDE SILVA, or. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VESTIBU LE-DIREC TO RY.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,560, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed April 8 1902. Serial No. 101,949. (No model.) I

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DE SILVA, a citi zen of the United States of America, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vestibule-Directories, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in drectories for bulletins placedinrthe vestibulesor halls of commercial blocks, apartment-houses, hotels, &c. to locate .theoffices. and apartments and the occupants thereof, and it particularly appertains to the class of directories whereon are located numerically the floors and alphabetically the num'bers'and addresses of the various tenants; and the objects 'of my improvements are, first, to provide a series ofinterchangeable independent frames, but preferably'united in pairs,which may beadded touniformly when an increase of thedirectory is subsequently desired; second, the arrangement of certain name-bean ing tablets alphabetically withoutthe necessity of disturbing adjacent frames or obstructing the View thereof; third, the manner ofconfining said tablets Within the glass frontage and against the adjustable backboard embraced by each frame; fourth, the employment of a secondary backing to regu' late said adjustable back boardin'propinquity to the glass front, and, in'other essentials hereinafter enumerated, and especially designated in the claims. I

A more specific description ofv the remain ing features of my improvedinvention will be obtained through reference to the drawings, forming part of this specification, where- 1 Figure l is a front elevation of one of the directories composedoftwo individual frames and glasses united. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevatiouof the same.

ner of adjusting the same. v a fragmentary perspective of one of the back boards to exhibit the attached refiexed retaining edge strips supporting the name-tablets. Fig. 5 exhibits an aggrouped section organized for reference with one tablet-frame opened to disclose the construction of the Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of a singleassemblied frame, exhibiting the double backsandfinan- Fig. tillustratesl V plex-beveled glass panels.

back anddisplay the bevels on the longitudinal rear edges of the glass panels. Fig. (idesignates a vertical transverse section on dashed line 6 of Fig 5, and Fig. 7 a horizontal section on dashed line 7 of Fig. 5.

Corresponding letters of reference designate similar features throughout the several vicws, referring to 'which A A are right and left frames holding du- These frames are united preferably as at B, or they may be hinged at. the top, so asto swing outwardly.

Each of said frames is provide'dwith a recess or rabbet C contiguoustothe front to receive and support the glass panels D, which in ad- "dition to the ornamental bevel around the exterior edges are-further providedwith a bevel E E at a more acute angle with the plane of the rear surface on each of'the longitudinal, rearside edges F F. (Well observed. in Fig. 2.) -The office of said bevels EE is to form, in connection with the inner facesG G of the side of each frame, trianretaining-surface from the rear side, the threaded members entering the fixedback- 'ings K K, which'are firmly secured to the top and bottom of the main frame P,,as at M M, Fig.6, insuring auintcrvening space for the back board adjustment, said screwsare adjusted from the front of the back boards in the ordinary manner after removing the individual name-plates which conceal the slottedheads. '{ticul'ar' form of adj usting-screws no registering-pins are necessary, as they obviously com- By the employment of this parbine the office of registering and adjusting. This manner of adj ustably confining the back board and backing also obviates any tendency that may be inherent to warp, and thus become displaced in their relation with said inclosing frames or glass fronts. The adjustable hack boards J J are further provided with a retaining-surface N, adjacent to the rear side of the glass fronts, which may consist of fabric or may be flocked or otherwise produced, the essential character of which is to restrain the tablets 0 from shifting and to insure a yielding pressure, so as to retain the uniform alinement and surface of the aggrouped name-tablets for inspection. This feature, however, may be replaced by the application of a corresponding surface to the under sides of each tablet.

In the practical arrangement of my improved directory, assuming a necessary addition or rearrangement of the lettered or figured tablets, one or more of the frames are unlocked and swung outwardly, permitting access to the name-tablets, when any substitution or rearrangement may be easily and quickly effected by withdrawing the pliable tablets comprising any flexible material from the refiexed retaining-pieces I I and without the necessity of rearranging the backings.

In the final arrangement of the aggrouped frames A A they may be inolosed in a cabinet or surrounded by an ornate (glassless) frame P, Fig. 5, which will permit access to the individual sets of panels, sustain them, and impart character to the assemblage.

I am aware that similar directories or bulletins have been heretofore used, as evidenced in Letters Patent No. 560,878 of May 26, 1896, and others, wherein the flexible nameplate, the frames supporting them, and the back boards having a retainingsurface are shown; but I am unaware of the use of a bevel formed upon the rearward longitudinal edges of the glass frontage for the purpose defined, the refiexed attached pieces supporting said tablets, a back board that is adjustable from the front or the fixed backing coacting by the described means to effect the adjustment of the back board with its sustained tablets against the glass frontage. I therefore consider said features as new, and while I have described and illustrated the preferred construction I desire not to be confined to the literal interpretation herein dofined, but may employ such equivalents therefor as will come within the fair scope and spirit of my invention, which, having thus described,

I claim- 1. In a vestibule or ball directory, the glass panel having a bevel formed on each of its longitudinal rearward edges, the adj ustable back board provided with refiexed retaining-strips on their longest edges adjacent to said bevels adapted to support the flexible tablets, and means to regulate the distance of the back boards to or from said glass panels substantially in the manner specified.

2. A vestibule or hall directory, comprising individual glass panels provided with bevels on their rearward longest edges, the adjustable back boards having their longitudinal edges provided with means for retaining te n1- porarily certain name-plates, the fixed backin g coacting with said adjustable back boards, and means as hereinbefore described to frontally adjust and secure said back boards with their assembled name-tablets with gentle pressure against the glass frontage substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth. 1

3. In combination, the glass panels provided with bevels on their rear longitudinal edges, the refiexed retaining-strips lying contiguous to said bevels in a manner to collectively or singly sustain the name-tablets, the adjustable back boards adapted to support said refiexed strips and means to restrain shifting of said tablets, the fixed backing coacting with the back boards and the adjusting-screws having a circular bearing to regulate the distance intervening between said back boards and the rear faces of the glass panels forming the front of the organized bulletin substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Boston, Massachusetts, this 5th day of April, 1902.

FRANK DE SILVA.

\Vitnesses:

.T. CONVERSE GRAY, E. O. KEANE.

Images