US668547A - Sign-attaching device. - Google Patents

Description

H. s. TANNER.

SIGN ATTACHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 25, 1900.

Patented Feb. 19, I90l.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 668,547. Patented Feb. I9, l90l. H, s. TANNER.

SIGN ATTAGHING DEVICE.

(Application filed Oct. 25, 1900.) (No Model.)

WAENT trio's.

HENRY S. TAFTNER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SlGN-ATTACHING DEVICE.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 668,547, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed October 25. 1900. Serial No. 34,373. (No model.)

T0 at 1071 0112, it may concern.-

Be it known that l,1-IENRY S. TANNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michi gan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sign-Attaching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a sign-attaching device, and is especially designed for placing and holding signs, bill-posters, and the like,- whether flexible, such as cloth or muslin signs, or rigid signs, such as tin or cardboard, in position to be tacked to a bill-board, high fence, or the like at an elevation out of ordif nary reach; and it has for its object to pro-, vide a simple, light, and efficient device of the character described by means of which the sign may be placed in position, preparatory to tacking, with ease and despatch and in a convenient and accurate manner, that may be adjusted to signs of different sizes, that may be readily detached from the sign after the latter has been tacked in place, and that shall be extremely light and portable, so that the same may be conveniently carried from place to place by the operator.

To this end my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,wherein Figure 1 is a View in elevation of my improved device, showing a cloth sign in place thereon in readiness to be tacked to a billboard or other support. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device folded up. Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional View. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view of one of the impalingpins. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one of the springs for holding a rigid sign, and Fig. 6 is a view of the telescopic handle.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a tubular standard whichis designed to be fitted atits lower end in a handle of any suitable construction, the preferred form of handle being hereinafter described. Fitted in the standard 1 and adapted to freely move up and down therein is a rod 2. On the upper end of the standard 1 is fixed a T 3,

through which the rod 2 loosely plays, and fixed on the upper end of said rod is a corresponding T 4, in the upper end of which is fixed a rod or tubular extension 5.

The numeral 6 indicates an extensible frame consisting of a system of lazy-tongs formed of a number of pivoted levers 7 in a well-known manner and adapted to be extended and contracted, as usual. The central levers '7 and 7 of the lazy-tongs are pivotally connected to the Ts 3 and 4, as at 8 and 9, and as the T 3 is stationary and the T 4: is fixed on the rod 2 the latter Will play up and down in the tubular standard as the lazytongs are opened and closed to permit of the extension and contraction of the latter. Loosely arranged on the tubular standard is a sleeve 10, having fixed on its upper end a yoke 11, provided with two laterally and oppositely projecting arms 12, and pivoted to the ends of said arms are two rods 13, the free ends of which loosely pass through posts 14. The posts 14: are similar in construction to the ordinary and Well-known electrical bindingposts, and each forms the central pivot of two of the levers 7 of the lazy-tongs. The rods 13 are held against movement in said posts by set-screws 15 in a usual manner. It will be evident that if the yoke 11 be moved upward on the standard the rods or arms 13 will be spread apart, and hence the lazy-tongs will be opened or extended, and, conversely, if the yoke be drawn down on the standard the rods or arms will be drawn together or toward each other and the lazy-tongs will be closed or contracted. During such operations the rod 2 will play up and down in the tubular standard 1, as before explained. The pivots operating to connect together the intersecting ends of the outermost levers 7 of the lazytongs are provided with knobs 16, by means of which the lazy-tongs may be opened and closed.

Loosely arranged on the rod 2 is a sleeve 17, on the lower end of which is fixed a yoke 18, provided with laterally and oppositely projecting arms 18*, and to the ends of the arms l8 are pivotally attached tubular arms 19, in each of which is fitted to loosely slide a rod 20, said rods passing through posts 21, similar to the posts 14 before referred to, and

are studs 23, fitted on which is a connecting rod 24, which is held in place thereon by suitable Washers and nuts 25 the nuts being preferably in the form of knobs, as shown.-

The rod 24 may consist of a hollow tube or a flat plate, if preferred, its function being to rigidly connect together the two yokes 11 and 18, whereby when the lower yoke 11 is raised or lowered to open or close the lazy-tongs the upper yoke 18 will also be raised and lowered to spread apart and draw together the arms 19 20. Arranged on the stud 23, carried by the yoke 18 on the opposite sides of the connecting-rod 24, so as to freely turn on said stud, are two pulleys 25 and 26, and attached to the posts 14 are theends of cords or light cables 27, that are passed, respectively, over the pulleys 25 and 26 and at their other ends are joined to a single cord or cable 28 of suitable length and provided at its lower end with a pull or handle 29 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

At the four corners of theextensible frame, or, in other words, on the free ends of the outermost levers 7 of the lazy-tongs, arearranged prongs or pins constructed and arranged as follows: In the free end of each of the outermost levers 7 of the lazy-tongs is formed a perforation through which is passed the threaded shank 30 of a small post 31 and is firmly secured therein by a nut 32. To the end of said post is pivoted one end of a socket 33, into which is screwed a pin 34, said pin being held in place in the socket by a jamnut 35. As shown, the sockets carrying the pins may be turned outward, so asto cause the pins to project laterally in opposite directions, or they .may be turned inward to cause the pins to project toward each other to protect the pins when the device is not in use and prevent them from catching in the clothing of the operator and otherarticles. Screwed on the upper end of the rod or tubular extension 11 of the rod 2 is an elbow 36, in which is screwed a socket 37, carrying a pin 38, similar to the sockets and pins before referred to, the pin 38 being bent or inclined upward slightly for the purpose hereinafter made apparent. In its operative position the elbow is turned so as to cause the pin 38 to project rearward ly at a right angle to the extensibleframe or lazy-tongs; but when the device is not in use the elbow is turned so as to cause the pin 38 to lie in the same planeas the inwardly-turned pins 34.

In practice the tubular standard 1 will be inserted in the end of a pole or handle of suitable length and construction, as before stated. Let itbe assumed thataflexible sign or poster, as of cloth or muslin, for example, is to be tacked up in place on a high wall, bill-board,

or other inaccessible place. The extensible frame or lazy-tongs will thenbe opened or extended to approximately the required length to receive the flexible sign and the pins 34 turned outward and the pin 38 rearwardly. ,The four corners of theflexible sign are next impaled'on the pins 34 by sticking the latter through the cloth, and the upper edge of the latter at its center is impaled on the pin 38, when by grasping the knobs 16 in his hands the operator by drawing them apart extends or opens the-lazy-tongs as far as the cloth will permit, thereby stretching the cloth out smooth and holding it flat in readiness for tacking in place. Bygrasping the handle or pole the operator canreadily lift the sign up to theplace it isintenrled to occupy. Then by means of a long-handled magnetichammer adapted to hold a tack and which need not be'here shownand described, as it forms no part of the present invention, he can quickly and easily tack the sign in place. After the sign has been tacked inplaee the operator grasps ,the pull or handle 29 and draws down the cordsor cables 27, which pass over the guide-pulleys 25 and 26, and by such .movement draws together the arms or rods 13,

thereby contracting or closing the lazy-tongs, as before described, and Withdrawingthepins 34 from the sign. Then by lowering the devicethe pin 38 is likewise withdrawn, leaving the sign securely tacked in place. By

means of the set-screws 15 the arms or rods 13 may be connected at different points to the lazy-tongs, whereby they may be adjusted to extend the lazy-tongs to a greater or less extent to accommodate signs of different sizes. The arms 19 and 20 follow the movements of the arms 13, but do not operate to open and close the lazy-tongs, the function of said arm being tostiifen andbrace the lazy-tongs and hold the same against the action of the wind in a strong breeze.

For holding rigid signs-sueh as signs formed of sheet metal, cardboard, and the likeI provide the following means: Attached to the rear sides of two of the levers 7 of ,the lazy-tongs are springs, each com prising a fiat shank 39, attached to the lever 7 by the pivots of the latter and terminating at its upper end in a slightly-bowed portion 40, which at its extremity bears against the said lever. By attaching the spring to the pivots of the levers in the manner shown the spring is prevented from turning, which it would be apt to do if it were secured to but one of the pivots. When a rigid sign is to be tacked 'in place, the impaling-pins before referred to are turned to their inoperative positions and the lazy-tongs opened to the required distance. The lower edge .of the sign'is then slipped underneath the free ends 40 of the springsor between the latter and the levers 7, to which they are attached. The sign is then raised to theposition in which it is to be fixed and is tacked along its upper edge only, after which the implement is detached from the sign by withdrawing it vertically downward, causing it to slip from ofi the sign. The operation of tacking the latter in place at all points may then be completed.

To the lower end of the connecting-rod 24 is attached a hook 41, and when the device is folded up for transportation the cords or cables may be Wrapped back and forth about the studs 23 as cleats and their ends hooked over the hook 41, thus preventing the cords or cables from becomingtangled and conveniently disposing of the same.

While any suitable form of pole or handle may be employed for raising and lowering the extensible frame, I prefer to construct the same as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Referring to said figu re, the numeral 42 indicates a metallic tube of suitable length, preferably closed at its lower end by a plug 43 and having screwed on its upper end a reducer or flanged collar 44. Telescoped in said tube is another'tube 45 of slightly less diameter and provided on its inner end with a collar 46, which engages the flange of the reducer 44 when the tubes are extended and prevents the tube 45 from being entirely withdrawn from the tube 42. Formed in the tube 45, near its lower end, is a perforation 47, in which is adapted to be inserted a pin or key 48 when the tube is withdrawn and prevent its telescoping in the tube 42. The key is preferably attached to the handle bya chain 49, secured at its end to the reducer 44. Telescoped in the tube 45 is a smaller tube 50, movably secured therein in the same manner as the tube 45 and provided on its upper end with a collar 51, in which is fitted a set-screw A split collar 53 is movably arranged on 52. the tube 50 and is clamped about said tube at any desired point by a thumb-screw 54. Said collar is adapted to rest on the upper end of the tube 45 and hold the tube 50 extended any desired distance. By means of the telescopic pole or handle described the support for the extensible frame may be readily adjusted to the height or length most convenient for the work immediately in hand and when not in use may be nested or collapsed in a compact form suitable for transportation or storage.

I have described my improved sign-attaching device in its most approved form; but it will be manifest that various modifications may be employed in the details of its construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, What I claim is-- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame, of attachments carried by said frame for detachably connecting the latter to a sign, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame and a handle for raising the same, of means carried by said frame for holding the ends of a sign, means for extending said frame, and means for contracting or folding up said frame, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame provided at its opposite ends with penetrating pins or prongs, and a handle for raising said frame, of means for contracting or folding up said frame to retract the pins orprongs, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame provided at its opposite ends with penetrat ing pins or prongs pivotally attached to said frame whereby they may be turned back or reversed when not in use, and mounted on a handle, of means for contracting or folding up saidframe to withdraw the pins or prongs from the frame, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame and a handle for raising the same, of penetrating prongs or pins removably carried by the opposite ends of the frame, and means for contracting or folding up said frame, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame and a handle on which the frame is mounted, of penetrating prongs or pins carried by the opposite ends of the frame, a prong or pin projecting above the upper edge of said frame, and means for contracting or folding up the frame, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs mounted on a handle, means carried by the ends of the lazy-tongs for grasping the ends of a sign, and means for contracting or folding up the lazytongs, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs mounted on a standard, means carried by the ends of the lazytongs for grasping the ends of a flexible sign, and means for contracting or folding up the lazy-tongs to detach the frame from the sign, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame, of penetrating prongs or pins carried by the opposite ends of the frame, a prong 0r pin arranged to project transversely to said frame centrally above the upper edge of the latter and adapted to be turned into parallelism with said frame, and means for contracting or folding up the frame, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard a yoke sleeved on said standard,pivoted arms carried by said yoke and connected at their ends to the lazy-tongs on opposite sides of the standard, and means for moving said yoke downwardly on the standard to contract the extensible frame, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a yoke sleeved on said standard, pivoted arms carried by said yoke and adjustably connected to the lazy-tongs on opposite sides of the standards, and means for moving said yoke downwardly on the standard to contract the extensible frame, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubularstandard, a yoke sleeved on said standard, pivoted arms carried by said yoke, posts pivotally arranged on the opposite end portions of the extensible frame through which the ends of said arms pass, set-screws carried by said posts and arranged to engage and hold said arms, and means for contracting the frame, substan' tially as described.

13. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rod slidablyarranged in said standard and connected at its upper end to the lazy-tongs, a yoke sleeved 011 said standard, pivoted arms carried by said yoke and connected at their ends to said extensible frame on opposite sides of the standard, and means for moving said yoke downward on the standard to contract the extensible frame, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubularstandard, a rod slidably arranged in said standard and connected at its upper end to the lazy-tongs, means for opening and closing the lazy-tongs, a yoke sleeved 011 the said rod, tubular pivoted arms carried by said yoke, and rods slidably arranged in said tubular arms and connected at their outer ends to the lazytongs, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rod slidablyarranged in said standard and connected to the lazy-tongs, a laterally-projecting pin mounted on the upper end of said rod, pins arranged at the corners of said extensible frame, and means for extending and contracting said frame, substantially as described.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazytongs, of means carried by said frame for holding the ends of a sign, and knobs carried by the opposite ends of said frame, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame, of springs attached to the end portions of the frame and loosely bearing, at their free ends on said frame, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rod slidably arranged in said standard, yokes sleeved on said standard and rod, pivoted arms carried by said yokes and connected at their ends to the lazy-tongs, and a connecting-rod connecting said yokes, substantially as described.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame comprising lazy-tongs, of a tubular standard, a rod slidably arranged in said standard, yokes sleeved on said standard and rod, pivoted arms carried by said yokes, and connected at their ends to the lazy-tongs, a*

connecting-rod connecting the said yokes, two guide-pulleys arranged on the upper end of said connecting-rod, and cords or cables attached to the opposite end portions of the lazy-tongs and passing over said guide-pulleys, substantially as described.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with an extensible frame, of attachments carried by said frame constructed to detachably connect the latter to a sign, and a telescopic handle in which said frame is adapted to be fitted, substantially as described.

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

HENRY S. TANNER.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN P. WHITE, HORACE W. AVERY.

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