US1684346A - Indicator or prompter for household or other purposes - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,346

J. DE BRACHT mmcnon o3 PROMPTER FOR nousanow on OTHER PURPOSES Filed Jan- 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v a 5 1 H I IH INVENTOR QZ' Dear- 012 j W ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 192:;

J. DE BRACHT INDICATOR OR PROMPTER FOR HOUSEHOLD OR OTHER PURPOSES Filed Jan. 10, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR cI-Dcfira chi ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE.

JOSEPH DE BRACHT, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO PAUL EPRIGHT, 0F ALTOON A, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATOR OR PROMPTER FOR HOUSEHOLD OR OTHER PURPOSES.

Application filed January 10, 1928.

This invention relates to a device to be used as a reminder or prompter to indicate household articles to be purchased, dates to be kept, persons to be interviewed, or other indicia, to which attention is desired to be called.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, ,which will disclose at a glance the matter to be called to attention, and which is so marked and displayed, that it will stand out prominently and attract the attention of the party for .whom it is intended.

Another object is to so construct a device of this character which, when the matter to which attention is called has been taken care of, may have the attention attracting indicia replaced in the negative columnout of prominence and where it normally remains.

This invention, also, while primarily intended for the purposes above set forth, may be used for advertising purposes in stores, restaurants, and the like, it is so constructed that the indicia to be displayed may be readily chan ed at will. v

In carrying out t ese objects, the invention is suspectible of modification without departin from the spirit or sacrificing any of the a vantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which,

Figure 1 represents a front elevation with parts broken out, of a device constructed in accordance with this invention, 1

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section thereof showing the mounting of one of the slides used in connection with the indicator,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1, it bein a transverse section at the point indicate Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal section taken on the line-H of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing a slightly different form of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 6-6 of F ig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a, transverse section taken on the line. 77 of Fig. 5, and

Serial No. 245,768.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the slides used in the form illustrated in Fig. 5

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, the indicator constituting this invention comprises a base plate 1 which may be constructed of any suitable material, and of any desired size, and which is shown provided with a frame or reinforced side members 2 which are preferably made removable, for a purpose presently to be described,

This base plate 1 is shown provided at its upper end with apertures 3 to provide for its suspension from a suitable support, and adjacent said apertures is arranged a blank space or plate 4 to contain instructions, advertising matter, or other indicia.

At the lower end of the base plate 1 is shown mounted a scratch pad 5 for use in writin down articles 'needed, which are not in icated on the slides of the reminder. This pad 5 is, shown mounted in guides 6 extending longitudinally of 'the base plate and spaced transversely from each other, as shown clearly in F igs. 1 and 3, while arranged below the plane of these guides is a rest 7 to support the lower edge of the pad 5 and from the front edge of which extends concavo-convex rests 8 to receive and support a pencil, indicated in dotted lines at P.

The base plate 1 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending guides 10 arranged to alternate with each other, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, one of said guides extending from one side, edge of the base plate to a point beyond the mid-center thereof in one direction, while the adjacent guide extends from the other side edge in the opposite direction to a point beyond the mid-center of the plate. These guides 10 are provided byslitting the base plate 1 transversely, the slits 11 being spaced longitudinally apart on the base plate a sufficient distance to receive suitable indicia carrying slides 15, which are constructed as will be presently more fully described. The edges of the slit portions of the plate 1 are bent outward at an 'oblique angle as shown at 12 and provide guides for the flanges 16 arranged longitudinally along The central field 21* has arranged above it on the base plate 1 suitable indicia to call attention to the slides contained in thisfield, and preferably the word We need are placed conspicuously above this field. It will then be obvious that when the slides bearing the names' of=articles needed are moved into the spaces inthe' field 21, that attention will-be immediately attracted to-them by glancing-at the-indicatorand show just what articles are desired to be purchased, it the device is "used a'sa household reminder, or obviously-the slides may contain thereon dates, or names of persons, or anything to'which attention is to 'be at traoted. p

The slides 15 are'each provided with an indiciacarrying body portion 17*having the flanges 16 extending longitudinally along sthe side edges thereof-and adaptedto slidably' engage under the flanges-12 of the base plate, as shown in Fig. 2 While"from one end of the slide-extends :upw'ardly a 'lug 18 to form a finger-grip for manipulating-the slides to movethemback and forth; 'A stop 18- for limiting the movement or the slides inwardly oft-he plate-1 is' =frI'n'edLat the inner- "endof each slot so that whenthe slide reaches theinner end of its guide itwill be stopped from sliding beyondsaid fguide. It 'will thus be'seenthat'when any household article gives out and attention offthe householder is desired to be" called 1' thereto, the attendant, or anyone else, moves theslide at'ioneside of'theplate 1' into the central position for instance, should "matches i be needed, the slide bearin the word Matches is moved, as shown inf iFig'. 1 1 and arranged directly within the field: 21 below the phrase We need, {so' that ai 'glance at the indicator will show exactly the articles which are -'to "be-supplied, This arrangement of the slidesjat opposite sides of the board so" that whenmoved inwardly to thezcentral fieldtthey- Will'alternate, provides for a balanced 'boardcapable of -.carrying a maximum number of-slides. It'is, of course, understood'that the'board maybe finished in any-desired manner to render it attractive, or'sanitary, I y

In the form-shown in Figs. .55 to 8,wthe arrangement in principlis the same, the onlydifi'erence being that theibase plate '1 is composed of metal, preferably -enamelled,

:pose. r

and the slots 10 insteadof having the deflected flanges alon the edges thereof, as shown in the other figures, have their edges in the same plane as the body portion of the plate, as is shown clearly in Fig. 6, and these slots are made of sufficient size to receive guide lugs or fingers 16*} carried by the slides The slides 15 are all constructed exactly alike, and hence one only will be described in detail. Each of these slides comprises a plate orbody portion 23 having at their opposite ends down-turned lugs 24 and 25, said lugs being notched at their opposite side edges, as shown at 26. These notches 26 are designed to receive the side walls of the slots 10 when the slides-are operat-ively placed on the base board 1. -'A finger grip 27 extends laterally outward from one end of the slide and is designed-to facilitate" the manipulation of the slides in the same manner as that described-in relation to the other figures.

The binding strips or frame members 2 are removable to permit theslides'lfi to be inserted or removed when desired, and others substituted, thereby adapting the indicator to be used for advertising and similar purposes. i

From the above, it will'be readily seen that the gist of theinvention resides in'providing a device of this character by means of which the attention attracting slide may be seenat a glance, and while the two forms herein illustrated "and described accomplish theobje'ct, it is to be understood thatvarious constructions may be'empl'oyed for this pur- VVithout further description it is thought that-the features andadv antages ofthe invention will'be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it-will'of course be understood that ohanges' in. the form,'proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, -witl i(") 'ut" departing from the spirit and scope ofthe claimed invention. I claim? 1-. Adevice of the class described-comprising a base having a plurality of guides,'said guides extending alternately 'in' opposite directions and having a portion thereof arranged-parallel and onea'bovethe other, indicia'carryi-ng slides mounted to travel n said guides, and-means for manipulating said slides. i a

- 2. A device of the'class describedfcomprising a base plate having a central and two side fields; guides mounted in said side fields with their inner endsover'lapping in the center field, said overlapping inner ends being arranged one above the other with those extending into one side field alternating with those extendinginto the other, and indieiaicarrying slides mounted to travel in said guides and be disposed 'within said center field whereby the slides may be conspicuously displayed to adapt their indicia to be seen at a glance.

3. A device of the class described comprising a base plate having a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel fields, slots extending transversely of said fields, the inner ends of the slots of one side field overlying the inner ends of those of the other side field, and positioned in the center field, 10 and indicia carrying slides adapted to travel in said slots and equipped With means for manipulating them and for stopping them in adjusted position.

Signed at Altoona, in the county of Blair 15 and State of Penna. this fourth day of January, A. D. 1928.

JOSEPH DE BRACHT.

Images