US1382232A - Animated sign - Google Patents

Description

ANIMATED SIGN. lAPPLICAHON F|LED'SEPT.10, 1920.

2 SHEETS-j-SHEET i.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PYPER, OF' SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO PYIER ANIMATED SIGN COMPANY, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

ANIMATED SIGN.

Application led September 10, 1920.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. PYPER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animated Signs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention is concerned with animated signs, and is designed more particularly to produce a sign in which a long border can be given the appearance of animation without the use of an excessive number of lights or the necessity of constantly switching them on and off which exists under the present practice.

To this end it consists of a screen plate having the border or portion to be animated (which is outlined in perforations or translucent portions) of a character and design such that an endless belt or chain can be made to traverse adjacent it and carry preferably a plurality of shutters, which passing successively between the perforations or translucent portions and the light, or lights, throw preferably a series of continuously moving shadows over said border or portion, and thus produce the appearance of animation that has heretofore been secured only by switching on and off a number of lights corresponding generally to the number of the perforatiens or translucent portions.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all the figures of which- Figure 1. is a vertical section on the line i-iofrige,

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections on the lines 2-2 and 3--3 respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a detail on an enlarged scale illustrating one of the shutters and its mounting; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the sign on a smaller scale.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably employ a sheet metal casing 10, which is of any desired size and shape to accommodate the sign and the hereinafter described mechanism. For convenience of illustration, I have shown in Fig. 5 the front screen plate 11, which is preferably composed of sheet metal, as opaque throughout except for the line of perforations 12 forming a border, the sign proper being painted Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Serial No. 409,392.

or otherwise depicted on the central portion of t-he plate 11, which is illuminated in any desired manner as from the front. While I might leave the iperforations 12 entirely open, I preferably secure on the rear of the pla-te 12 over the perforations a strip 13, of some translucent material, such as a thin colored paper, which does not substantially cut off the light, but diffuses it somewhat and produces a more pleasing effect. Of course it will be understood that the strip 13 can be made of any desired color, or colors, as the taste of the designer may select.

The endless member preferably takes the form of a sprocket chain 14, which is mounted upon the four sprocket wheels 15 shown, one at each corner, which are journaled on suitable bearings 16 projecting inwardly from the rear of the front plate l1 by which they may be supported. The sprocket wheel 15a' in one corner instead of being mounted on the customary stud shaft 16l is pinned on the short shaft 17 which has one end journaled in the bearing 18 secured to the rear of the plate 11 in the same relative position as the stud shaft 16, and this shaft 17 is detachably connectedv to the shaft 19 journaled in the bearing 20 secured on the rear of the reflector casing 21, which I preferably employ, and which will ordinarily be of a pyramidal shape corresponding in its base to the design of the front plate 11 and in its height to the depth of the casing 10. Mounted in the apex of the pyramid is the socket 22 for the incandescent lamp 23 placed in the reflector and supplied with current from any suitable source, as indicated in'Fig. 1.y

Secured at suitable intervals on the chain 14 is a series of shutters 24.-, preferably made of sheet metal, and mounted so as to travel close to the perforations 12. 'To rotate the shaft 19, and to consequently keep the chain 14. moving at any desired speed, I preferably employ the electric motor 25 mounted in the bottom of the casing, and connected by suitable reducing gearing to the shaft 19, this gearing preferably consistingof a belt 26 connecting a pulley 27 on the armature shaft of the motor with a large pulley wheel 28 having the small pulley wheel 29 secured on its hub, the wheel 28 being journaled in the bearing 30, as shown in Fig. 2. A belt 31 connects the small ypulley 29 with the large pulley 32 secured on the outer end of the Shania Ittisdesneameashuieught the circuit 23 on and olf, a flasher cylinder 33 with the desired conductors thereon is secured on the hub of the wheel 32 and is provided with a couple of contacts 34 which are located in 35 which furnishes the lamp 23 with current.

The operation et the foregoing apparatus will be readily understood, as the continued rotation of the motor causes a seriesV oil shadows to traverse the border formed by the pertorations 12 and produce the desired effect of animation. It the sign is to be illuminated :trom the interior, it will be understood that a suitable casing with lights inside of it will be placed within the space between the reflector 21 and the screen plate l1.

While I have shown and described my in vention as embodied in the torni which I at presentV consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation ot the following claims, except as may be necessitated by the state `ot the prior art.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the 'United States is:

l. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque plate having a por tion to be animated outlined by a series oi" consecutive portions adapted to transmit light, ot an endless member movable adjacent said consecutive portions and in a path correspondingto the outline termed Vpath corresponding to the outline a source ot illumination back ot the screen plate, a shutter carried bythe endless member between the source Vot illumination and the consecutive portions tor the purpose described, and means for moving said endless member.

2. In an animated sign,the combination with a generally opaque plate having a portion to be animated outlined by a series ot consecutive portions adapted to transmit light, oi an endless member movable ad jacent said consecutive portions and Iin a formed by them, a source of illumination back ot the screen plate, a plurality of shutters carried by the endless member between the source ot' illumination and the consecutive portions for the purpose described, and means for moving said endless member.

3. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque screen plate having the portion to be animated outlined by a series of consecutive portions adapted to transmit light, 0I" a chain movable adjacent said consecutive portions and in a path corresponding to the outline termed by them, a source of illumination back of the screen plate, a shutter carried by the chain travelby them,

ieasee ing between the source of illumination and the consecutive portions 'lor the purpose described, sprocket wheels on which said chain is mounted, and means for rotating Vone of sprocket wheels.

il. In an animated sign, the combination with a rectangular casing having a generally opaque screen plate in the front thereot having a border to be animated outlined by a series otoonsecutive portions adapted to'transmit light, a sprocket wheel mounted on the interiorot1 thev casing at each corner, a sprocket chain mounted on said sprocket wheels and movable adjacent said border in a path corresponding to the outline formed by said portions, a centrally located source ot illumination baclr oi' the screen plate, a shutter carried by the chain between the source of illumination and the consecutiife portions for Vthe purpose described, and means for rotating one oi' said sprocket wheels.

5. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque plate having portion to be animated outlined by a series ol'. consecutive portions adapted to transmit. light, ot an endless member movable adjacent said consecutive portions and in a path corresponding to the outline formed by them, a source ot illumination back of the screen plate, a shutter carried by the endless member between the source ot illumination and the consecutive portions for the purpose described, a series ot wheels on which the endless member is supported, an electric motor, and reducing gearing from said electric motor to one ot the wheels.

6. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque screen plate having a portion to be animated outlined by a series of consecutive portions adapted t transmit light, of an endless member movable adjacent said consecutive portions and in a path corresponding to the outline termed by them, a source of illumination back o'.' the screen plate, a shutter carried by the endless member between the source ot illumination and the consecutive portions tor the purpose described, a series ot wheels on which theendless member is mounted, an electric motor, reducing gearing between said motor and one oi: the wheels, and a flasher mounted concentrically with the shaft ot the wheel connected with the reducing gearing.

In witness whereof; I" have hereunto set my hand and atlixed my seal, this Qtth day of August, A.. I). 1920.

f GEORGE Il. PYPIGR. [n s l lllitnesses z K. W. Ynarns, Il, E Vi'rALLAcE,

Images