GB373140A - Improvements in or relating to illuminated signs or representations for advertising and other purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

373,140. Luminous signs. WARD, C. W., 9, Calabria Road, Highbury, London. Feb. 14, 1931, No. 4780. [Class 3 (ii).] A sign comprises an opaque member 84 having translucent portions 82 in the form of characters through which light is transmitted, and a sheet of glass 81 which is arranged in front of the opaque member and adapted to reflect light back on to it to produce the effect of diffused light round the bright characters such as is obtained with a neon sign. A part 83 forming a border for the characters may be provided, and this may either be more reflective than the part 84, to simulate the effect produced by the walls of the tube in a neon sign, or else black, in which case a dark border appears round the letters. The preferred method of construction is to coat.the glass with foil which is then removed except at the pa.rts 82, 83, after which a layer of paint 84 is applied ; the foil is next removed from the parts 83, and a layer of paint 85 is added ; finally all the foil is removed and a final layer of coloured translucent paint 86 is applied over the whole surface. In a modification, only the members 81, 84 are employed, the latter being of a material which is translucent in thin layers but substantially opaque in thick layers and being tapered off towards the part 82, so that an effect of gradually decreasing illumination is obtained around the bright characters. Further effects may be obtained by shaping the front surface of the glass and causing the lamps which illuminate the device to flicker.