US988046A - Device for delivering written orders and messages to moving trains. - Google Patents

Description

L. V. ,THAYER. DEVICE FOR DELIVERING WRITTEN ORDERSAND MESSAGES T0 MOVING TRAINS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17.,1911.

988,046. Patented Mar.28,191 1.

.F -5. IEILEl G I? eras ear LOU V. THAYER, 0F ATLANTIC, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF lO MYBON A. WILLIAMS, 0F JAMESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR DELIVERING WRITTEN ORDERS AND MESSAGES TO MOVING TRAINS.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Lou V. THAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Delivering Written Orders and Messages to Moving Trains, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a practicable and efficient device for delivering written orders and messages to moving trains without liability of injuring the person receiving the order or message. This object is accomplished by means substantially as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The device comprises a handle or rod A at one end of which is a large fork B substantially U-shaped in form. The arms of the fork are grooved on their outer sides, as indicated at C, the said grooves extending from the extremities of the arms for a distance from about one-half to two-thirds the length of the arms, more or less, it being understood that the length of the grooves may be varied. The said grooves C, as they approach the crotch or middle portion of the fork, are also twisted or deflected gradually to the front of the fork, as indicated at D. This formation is preferably obtained by constructing the arms of the fork from two semicircular or grooved strips of metal, which are attached on the end of the handle A as shown and are twisted at E so as to provide the grooves C extending alon the outer sides of the arms of the fork. At the end of the handle or rod A, on the front side of the device, is a clasp F, which may consist of a flat leaf spring affixed to the rod and pressing down thereon, the free end of the spring being disposed toward the arms of the fork.

The manner of using the device is as follows: A string or cord G, to which the written order or message is to be attached, is strung upon the fork and the ends of the string tied together, forming what may be termed a loop. This string loop is strung upon the fork by running the string in the grooves C, drawing it comparatively taut,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1911.

Patented Mar. 28, 1911. Serial No. 603,168.

and inserting the string under the spring or clasp F. Preferably a number of loops of proper size are prepared beforehand, to be used as occasion arises. The written order or message is attached to the string or loop by any suitable means, as, for example, by means of a clip or fastener, or by tying, or plnnlng the paper to the string, or by fastening the flap of the envelop over the string, or in any other way that may be convenient or desirable. Preferably the order or message is attached to the portion of the string between the extremities of the arms of the fork, but where a number of messages or orders are to be delivered at once, they may be attached to any portion of the st ing, to the exposed portion at the middle of the fork as well as to the portion of the string lying in the grooves C. When the device is thus equipped, the station agent holds it by the rod or handle A with the fork B in such position that the engineer, brakeman, conductor or other person on the approaching train can run his arms through the string loop and thereby detach the loop with its attached papers from the fork, thus receiving the orders or messages.

It will be observed that by reason of the twisting of the arms of the fork, and the gradual deflection of the grooves G to the front of the fork, a smooth continuous surface is presented at D, and hence the loop will easily detach from the fork without danger of becoming caught.

The arms of the fork are preferably made of sheet steel, which allows a considerable flexibility, so that the arms of the fork will yield when the loop is strung thereon and brought under the clasp for making it taut, and the quick detachment of the taut loop is facilitated. The flexibility of the fork also enables it to yield in case of being struck by the arm of the conductor or other person on the train, thus avoiding a hard blow such as would be encountered by striking a rigid object.

Instead of the device being held in the hand of the station agent, it may, of course, be held in a suitable rack or holder provided for that purpose.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device for delivering written orders and messages to moving trains comprising a handle having a U-shaped fork at one end and provided with the handle and twisted adjacent the attached ends, whereby the grooves will extend over 5 the rear faces of the strips and along the outer sides thereof, and a loop engaged by the clasp and extending through the grooves and between the ends of the arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, 20 in presence of two witnesses.

LOU V. THAYER.

Witnesses ROLAND J. GREEN, RUTH DU Mons.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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