US1180138A

US1180138A - Illuminated sign.

Info

Publication number: US1180138A
Application number: US2841415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard S Giese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-05-15
Filing date: 1915-05-15
Publication date: 1916-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1933-04-18

Description

R. S. GIESE.

ILLUMINATED SIGN. V

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1915.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

W1 TNESSES:

Attorney RICHARD S. GIESE, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

irnnunrina'rnn SIGN.

Lftitml d.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. ltd, f ilfi.

Application filed May 15, 1915. Serial No. 28,414.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, RICHARD S. Green, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Illuminated Sign, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to illuminated signs and is designed more particularly for use in connection with dwellings or other buildings where it is desired to display a number or other indication at the door of the building, although the invention is applicable to other uses and therefore is not confined to such particular use.

The invention comprises a globe adapted to receive an illuminating means, such, for instance, as an incandescent electric lamp, and the globe is made of any desired configuration, usually, however, of ornamental outline. Along one side of the globe there is provided a frame suitably attached to the globe and adapted to the frame are movable or adjustable plates, some of which may be blank, and others of which may contain suitable indicia, particularly digits.

The globe may be employed for diffusive illumination at the doorway and adjacent area, while the blank plates and those containing the indicia may be of an opaque nature with the numbers themselves out out so that the diffused light of the globe is seen through the numbers. By this means the digits making up the number where the sign is employed for such purpose, are seen as white or light numbers upon a dark background, and the globe itself may also appear illuminated in surrounding relation to the number area.

The structure is such that the numbers may be changed as desired within a frame large enough to display the highest number needed, so that a single type of sign will answer for a large number of purposes.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. with the further under-.

standing that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with,

the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is an eleva tion of a sign embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the number holding frame. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the number plates.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a globe l which is illustrated as a somewhat elongated globe of hexagonalcross-section, although any particular shape and configuration is not obligatory. A polygonal globe is of advantage in presenting plane faces facilitating the adaptation of the sign thereto and engaging fiat against one of the plane faces and also presenting a more or less ornamental appearance. One end of the globe is provided with an opening 2 surrounded by a rim or flange 3 which may be of standard size and shape, so that the globe may be supported by the usual three and one-fourth inch fitter, which is standard for electric work of this description, the socket for the bulb being carried by the fitter. However, as these electric fittings are of customary character they are neither shown nor described in detail.

The globe 1 is usually made of white or milk glass, but may be made of any suitable glass and may be mounted on the side wall of the porch or from the ceiling.

The body or globe 1 is provided in the center line of one of the panels near the top and bottom thereof with holes 4, 5, respectively, to receive tongues 6 on opposite end bars 7 8, respectively,- of an elongated frame 9, which in the particular showing of the drawing is an elongated rectangular frame conforming in general to the shape of one of the panels of the globe and of a length to include the holes et and 5 within the area defined by the margins of the frame. The frame 9 has elongated side bars 10, and these side bars, as well as the end bar 8, are of channel construction, while the end bar 7 is of double wall construction open at both edges, whereby access to the interior of the I and and those and thetongues 6 therefore constitute coactthe end 7 and will rest of the particular digit.

mg securing means for the frame within the .area defined by the margins of said frame. There tively, which may conveniently be made of sheet metal. The plates 12 are each provided with a digit 13 produced by punching out the metal of the respective plates to leave clear spaces conforming to the

shape plate

11, 12 is outturned to form a flange 14 projecting from the plate at substantially rlght angles thereto, so'that. the depth of the flange combined with'the thickness of the plate isaboutequal to the depth of the channels in the side bars 10 and end bars 8 of the frame and also the passage through the end bar 7 of the frame, whereby the plates may be inserted in the frame through one on the other, the

. flanges 14 constituting convenient finger holds for the. manipulation of the plates, and also aiding in preventing the escape of any noticeable amount oflight between the plates Where they come together.

The

plates

11 and 12 and the frame 9 are so proportioned that the frame will hold a certain number of plates, six in the particular instance shown, with the frame or holding member then' completely filled within its inner margins.

The

plates

11 and 12 being preferably of metal, are opaque to light and may be finished in any desired manner, as by painting, bronzing, plating,'enameling, or in any other suitable manner.

. up .of'the By daylight the globe is seen through the number openings with these numbers surrounded by a contrasting background made visible portions of the

plates

11 and 12, the plates 11 being blank plates and the plates 12 containing some cut-out indicia, such as a number. By night the electric lamp will light up the interior of the globe, thus causing the latter to glow, and the light shines through the number openings with a suflicient border of opaque material to prevent the glow from the body of the globe from interfering with the dis tinctness of the number openings because of coalescence of glare from the globe and number openings, the numbers appearing light upon a dark background.

The number sign is therefore distinctly about the holes 4 and 5 are'also provided a suitable number of

rectangular plates

11, 12, respec- I One edge of each particular showing visible both by daylight and at night, it being assumed, of course, that in the latter case the electric lamp is energized.

he frame 9 is customarily a fiat metallic frame of a size to fit flat against a panel of the globe within the margins of said panel, and is readily attached to or removed from the globe 1, which latter is closed except at the opening 2 and at the passages 1 and 5, which passages, however, are in turn closed by the frame 9 and the plates ll, 12 when the latter are in place.

While it is globe and numbers in other directions than that shown, it is preferred to have the numbers arranged in an upright or substantially upright column, which arrangement is particularly adapted to elongated globes of the general type shown in the drawings.

quite feasible to arrange the be present invention has the advantage 1 in producing the sign indicia in white or light colors upon a dark background, and alsoproviding illumination over a considerable area at night without interference with the display of the numbers and without the latter interfering to any material extent with the illuminating qualities of the globe exterior to the holding member, for the globe may therefore be entirely free from obstruction to the passage of light therethrough except where covered by the holding member and the member plates. The invention is designed particularly for house numbers and ,combi'nes with the display of house numbers the illuminating qualities of a porch light for night use and the prominent display of the house number by daylight.

Since the numbers are interchangeable, a

dealer may carry a, stock of globes and numbers and apply them to any desired house without the necessity of having a specially numbered globe for each house. Since the house numbers vary the blank plates'll are provided to fill up the frame where the space provided for the frame is more than that needed for the number. If the house number contained but one digit then in the particular arrangement of the drawings five blank plates would be needed. If the number runs to a. thousand or more, as in the of Fig. 1, then four are employed and two and so on. the globe is made of white or number plates 12 blank plates, Ordinarily -milky glass, and the number and blank plates are of blackened metal, wher by the contrast produced by the white glass bordered by the blackened background brings the numbers into decided prominence whether seen by daylight or by means of the rays of an electric lamp housed in the globe.

The invention is particularly adapted for the display of house numbers in conjunction with porch lights,

and while for convenience me ias the claims are directed to a porch light, it will be understood that by so doing the utility of the invention is by no means confined to porch lights alone, but may be used wherever it is adaptable.

What is claimed is Y 1. An illuminated sign for porches and other places, comprising a globe of lighttransmitting material with a frame of opaque material wholly exterior to and secured against the'outer face of the globe over an area constituting but a fractional portion of the area of the globe, and a filling of opaque material adapted to the frame to be carried by and occupy the'interior of the frame, with certain portions of the filling out out to expose the globe thereunder to view and of a conformation to constitute indicia, whereby the globe except where covered by the frame serves for illuminating the porch or other place and the frame and filling therefor with cut-outs provide a ready visible house-number indication, with the cut-out indicia separated from the light transmitting portion of the globe about the frame by a distance sufiicient to prevent coalescence of glare from the cut-out portions of the filling material and those portions of the globe surrounding the frame.

2. An illuminated sign for porches and other places, comprising a globe of light transmitting material and of polygonal cross-section, and a frame of opaque material wholly exterior to the globe and secured fiat against one of the outer plane faces of the globe, said frame having a filling of opaque material with cut-out portions constituting indicia and exposing the surface of the globe through said cut-out portions.

3. A porch light comprising a globe provided with spaced passages through one side, a frame adapted to the portion of the globe having the passages therethrough and provided with tongues adapted to extend through the passages and be bent against the inner wall of the globe to hold the frame in place, said frame being of channel material to constitute a receptaclewith one end open for access to the interior of the frame, and a filling of opaque material for the frame having cut-outs representing indicia and exposing therethrough corresponding portions of the globe where included within the margins of the frame.

4. A porch light comprising aglobe provided with spaced passages through one side,

a frame adapted'to the portion of the globe having the passages therethrough and provided with tongues adapted to extend through the passages and be bent against the inner wall of the globe to hold the frame in place, said frame being of channel material to constitute a receptacle with one end open for access to the interior of the frame, and a plurality of interchangeable plates adapted-to the frame and in number sufficient to fill the frame, an appropriate num ber of the plates having punched out indicia to expose therethrough corresponding portions of the globe where included within the margins of the frame, each plate having one edge plain and the other edge where engaging the next plate in order formed with an outstanding flange projecting at substantially right angles to the plate.

5. A porch light comprising an elongated globe of light transmitting material having its longer axis upright in the installed position, an upright frame of opaque channel material exterior to the globe and of a size to occupy a fractional portion of the surface of the globe, said frame being in contact throughout substantially its whole area with the outer surface of the globe and having its upper end provided with a constantly open passage for access to the interior of the frame, and-a sign of opaque material adapted to the interior of the frame and wholly exterior to and separated from the interior of the globe by the corresponding portion of the wall of the latter, said opaque material having cut-out portions representing indicia and there exposing that portion of the wall of the globe back of the cut-out portions. I

6. An elongated number-displaying globe of light transmitting material and of polygonal cross-section defining elongated panels, a frame corresponding in shape to a panel and said frame and globe having coacting means within the area defined by the margins of the frame for securing said frame to the globe and said frame having guide channels therein, and plates of opaque material adapted to the channels in the frame and in number sufiicient to fill the interior of the frame with the frames in abutment, a number of the plates corresponding to the number of digits to be displayed having the material of the plates cut out in con formity with the digits to expose like portions of the panel to which the frame is applied to view.

7. A number-displaying globe of elongated polygonal shape with a panel provided near the ends with passages therethrough, a frame of channel material having tongues thereon adapted to extend through the passages and be bent against the inner wall of the panel, said frame having the channels accessible through one end, and plates of opaque material adapted to be inserted into the frame through the accessible ends of and to move along the channels. the plates being of a size and in number sufficient to fill the interior of the frame with the plates in abutment and said plates each having the edge abutting the next adjacent plate provided with an outturned flange.

8. A number-displaying globe of elongated polygonal shape With a panel provided near the ends with passages therethrough, a frame of channel material having tongues thereon adapted to extend through the passages and be bent against the inner wall of the panel, said frame having the channels accessible through that end of the frame constituting the upper end thereof in'the installed position of the globe and plates of opaque material adapted to be inserted into the frame through the accessible ends of and to move along the channels, the plates being of a size and in number 1 sufiicient to fill the interior of'the frame with the plates in abutment, and said plates each having the edge abutting the next adjacent plate provided with an out-turned substantial right angle flange, the thickness of the plate and the depth of the flange combined corresponding substantially to the Width of the channel portions of the frame. 1 I

9.A number-displaying porch ball comprising an elongated globe of light diffusive material with its longitudinal axis upright in the installed position, an upright elongated frame of opaque material thereon, and a plurality of interchangeable opaque plates in number suflicient to fill the frame, certain of the plates having light transmitting porlions exposing the ball to View over areas Within the margins of the frame corresponding in shape to the numbers to be displayed and the frame, and globe having coacting means within the area defined by the marginal limits of the frame to secure said frame to the globe.

10. An elongated number displaying globe of light diffusive glass with its longitudinal axis upright in the installed position, an

elongated holding device arranged lengthwise of the globe, said holding device and globe being coactively. formed with means for securing the holding device to the globe, saidsecuring-means being Within the area defined by the margins of the holding device, and a sign adapted to the holding device and provided with light transmitting indicia which exposes the globe Within the area covered by the holding device and means carried thereby, said sign and holding device being of a character and of an area exterior to the indicia to prevent coalescence of glare from said indiciaand the portions of the globe exterior to the holding device.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD S. GIESE. Witnesses:

L. K. VOELKER, M. L. PANROCK.