US2679398A - Advertising chance device - Google Patents

Description

y 25, 1954 D B JAMESON 2,679,398

ADVERTISING CHANCE DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

17. 5. Jam e son ATTU RN EYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, .1949

INVENTOR. Z7. ,5. Jam 0, s on ATTU R N EYS Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADVERTISING CHANGE DEVICE D B J ameson, Pampm Tex. Application-January 26, 1949, Serial No. 72,853

My invention relates to business establishments such as restaurants and the like, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved advertising device.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with business establishments having seating accommodationsfor their patrons. I make use of clock-controlled means for flashing a plurality of electric lamps numbered or otherwise marked to correspond to the numbering or other marking of the seats in a particular place of business. The clock operates circuit closing means for energizing any one of the lamps from time to time to designate a winner. In association with the seat identifying lamps, I provide a second series of lamps which may be marked in terms of point value and are individually energized with the energization of certain of the seat or patron identifying lamps. Thus, when one of the seat or patron identifying lamps is energized, one of the'second series of lamps will be simultaneously energized, so that the person occupying the seat having the number corresponding to the illuminated identifying lamp will receive in point value whatever amount the valuation light indicates. In addition, I connect an audible signal in the circuit for sounding an audible alarm simultaneously with the illumination of one of the seat or patron identifying lamps, thus calling the attention of the patrons to their chance to secure credit for whatever point value is indicated by the valuation lamp without necessitating constant attention to the device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit} g V "3 Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the clock-controlled switch and the manner in which one of the seat identifying lamps is mounted; M

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; A V

Figure 5 is an end view of a motor operated circuit closing drum; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the group of contact fingers operatively associated with the switch drum.

In the embodiment selected to illustratemy invention, I make use of a conventional clock I 0 which includes the usual dial I2 and hands 14 and I6. Figure 1 illustrates a group of lamps [8 as being arranged in circular formation about 1 Claim. (01. 27 3 138) the clock H]. I illustrate twenty-four such lamps, which lamps may be numbered for identification, as indicated at 20, to correspond tothe numbering of the seats in a particular place of business.

- Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the manner in which the lamps I8 are mounted. About the clock lamp into contact with the conducting strip 32,

which is anchored at one end to the panel 22 by a screw 34. 'Screw 34 also constitutes-a cone nection for the wire 36.

Contact sleeve 26 includes an ear 38 fixedly related to a contact ring 40 lying in a circular recess 42 in oneface of the panel 22. A screw 44 passes through aligned openings in the ear 38 and the contact ring 40 andis threaded into the panel 22 for'connecting the parts into a unitary structure. According to Figure 4, the casing of the clock maybe provided with an annular flange .46 into which I press a ring 48 of insulating material. In the ring 48 I provide an annular groove 5H1v into which, Ipress a ringlike conductor 52 provided with a plurality of pins 54. Figure 2 illustrates twelve such pins.

To a clock driven shaft 56 I connect a larger diametersleeve 58 to which one end of a spring contact to isv secured. The spring contact is of such length as to successively engage the pins 54 for shortperiods of time through rotation of the shaft. Sleeve 58 is insulated from the shaft 56 at 52, and the arm 60 is fixedly secured to the sleeve by a screw 64.

Referring to Figure 2, I illustrate a conventional wall plug at 65, which includes the usual prongs 68 and wires'lfi and I2. Wire 10 is connected with one end of the ring 40 through the medium of a wire 14. Wire Ill alsoleads to a brush is arranged in conducting relation with the sleeve 58. To the ring 52 I connect a wire I3, which wire leads to the electric motor 80. An electrically operated bell 82 is interposed in the wire 78. Wire 12 also leads to the motor 80.

Figure 2 illustrates each of the lamps 18 as being provided with one wire 36, each of which is connected with one finger 84 mounted on an insulated bar 86 having its ends secured in any suitable manner to the end walls of a box 88.

connected with ten of the terminals sfi through 7 the medium of wires I06. Four of the terminals 98 are electrically connected with the terminal I02 through the medium of Wires 10,8. Terminal I04 is electrically connected with the remaining ten of the terminals 98 through the medium'of wires H0.

Fig. l illustrates three valuation lamps, H2, ll l and H8, Referring to Fig. 2, a wire I24 electrically connects the terminal Hi0 with the valuation lamp H2, and the valuation lamp H2 is also electrically connected with a wire 125. A wire :38 electrically connects the terminal I02 with the valuation lamp H4 and the valuation lamp H4 is also electrically connected with the wirel2 6. A wire I32 electrically connects the terminal N34 with the valuation lamp H6 and the valuationlamp H8 isalso electrically connected to the wire I26. The wire I26 being connested at l28 to the wire 12.

' Cooperating with the fingers 84 and 92 is a drum I34 which is rotatably mounted in bearings ISGlocated in the box 88. Drum I34 is of insulating material and, is provided with twentyfour bridge elements i353 arranged spirally about the drum to define one convolution. It will be noted in referring toFigure, 6 thatone of the bridge elements I38 bridges one finger 84 and one finger 92. Drum I34 is operatively connected with the electric motor 80 throughthe medium of a Bendix drive I40.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof will be readily understood. As the. contact arm (50 is moved into engagement with one of. the pins 56, assuming that the plug 86- has been connected with a source of current, the circuit through the motor 80 will be closed as follows; wire 10, brush it, sleeve 58,,contact arm 60, the associated pin 54, ring 52,.wire l8, bell 82 to the motor and to the wire 12.

Bendix drive 140 ,As themotor is started, the

operatively connects the motorv with the ,.drum

i lso that the latterwill be rotatedforsuce cessively bringing the bridge elements. I38 into bridging relation with their respective fingers B4 and 92. At the same time, the ring 40 will be energized through the medium of the wire Hi anclthe lamps I8 will be successively illuminated during rotation of the drum 134. However, contact arm 88 has conducting relationv with the pin .54 for a very short period of time. Thus, the circuit to the motor 80 will be broken as soon as the arm 60 moves out of contacting relation with the previously engaged pin 54.

The bridge elements I38 are so arranged that one finger 84 and its companion finger 92 will always be bridged through the medium of one of the elements I38. Such bridging of one finger 84 with one of the fingers 92 will close the circuit through'one of the lamps 18 as well as through one of the valuation lamps H2, H4 or H6. Thus the illuminate dlamps [8 will indicate'the winning seatand one of the valuation lamps will indicate the point value received by the occupant of that particular seat.

Bell 82 will continue ringing so long as the :ir; :u ii is closed through the motor 80. The frequency of operation may be changed to suit the needs of a-particular place of business. Spacing of the,.p ins 54 will depend upon the speed of the shaft 56.

I claimi A device of the typeldescribed comprising a first. plurality .of identifying lamps arranged in circulariormation, a, second plurality of identifying lamps positionedwithin said circular for.- mationof identifyinglamps, av clock also positioned within said circularformation of identifyinglamps, aterminal board having a plurality otterminals positioned thereon, a rotary bridgingdrum having a plurality of contacts thereon, a motor for rotating said drum, a plurality of first contacts positioned in thepath of the contacts on saiddrum and connected to said circular formation of identifying lamps, a plurality of second contacts positioned adjacent said first contactsa currentconducting wire connecting each'of said firstcontacts'to one of said first plurality of identifying lamps, a current-conducting wire connecting each'of said second contacts to one of said second plurality of identifying lamps, a current conducting wire connecting certain of the terminals to certain of said second plurality of identifying lamps sothat both said first and second contacts may be bridged by the contacts on said drum to simultaneously energize the first and secondplurality of identifying lamps, first contact means adapted to-be rotated by said clock, second contact means in the path of said first contact means connected to said motor, current conducting means connected to said motor whereby said motor is energized as the first and second contact means are engaged by the operation of said clock, said motorbeing adapted to rotate said drum to energize said lamps alternatelyand in sequence.

. References Cited in'the file-of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

Images