US1432519A - Changeable character, reversible sign - Google Patents

Description

Patented Get. 17, 1922..

a ar 3 a SILAS I. arrwa'rnn, on NEW YORK, ii. Y. i

lhtittfilt CHANGEABLE CHARACTER, REVERSIBLE SIG-Ni.

I Application filed January e, 1922. SeriaI in. 527,374

I '0 all whom it may concern: V 7

Be it known that I, SILAS I. A'rwarnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Characters, Reversible Signs, of which the follow ing is a specification.

' One of the objects of the invention is to provide a signhaving elements of construction whereby plates bearing imprinted characters may be resiliently engaged between spring retaining bars arranged longitudinally of a frame.

Another object is in the means provided by which a plurality of spring bars are held in vertical arrangement by tensional looking strips adjacent the upper edges of the bars.

A further object is in the provision of means whereby a number'of relatively short spring bars may be arranged to abut at their ends, thus forming, continuous bar of indefinite length and held from sectional derangement by locking strips of comparatively short lengths, tensionally engaging the spring bars in staggered or broken joint relation, when a plurality of the sectional bar and strip elements are arranged in vertical order.

A still further object is in the provision of a removable letter sign that is fully reversible and adapted for use on both sides and which presents a built-up surface that requires no cross bars as are usually employed for stiffening and covering joints of removable letter signs.

These and otherobjects which will appear are attained by the novel construction, com bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material. part of this disclosure and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental perspective and sectional view showing the arrangement of adjacent members.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the character plates.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the spring bars and locking strips having modified lower end elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10' designates generally an oblong rectangular frame, having top and bottom elements 11 and 12, and end elements 13 and 141 respectively.

- A rabbet or groove 15 is formed in the inner surfaces, centrally of the four sides of the frame, those in the top and bottom elements being adapted to receive grooved channel bars 16, and the grooves in the side elements to receive the extreme ends of the spring bars and locking strips as later described.

The channel bars 16 are suited in length to the frame and consist of metal strips shaving flanged parallel extending sides 16 adapted to fit into the grooves 15 of theframe members 11 and 12, and depressions 17 are formed centrally and longitudinally in the exposed main surfaces of'the bars. I

V-shaped spring bars '18 are formed from strips folded angularly, centrally of their width, as at 19 in Figure 3, the free, separated upper portions being bent inward forming curved'corner edges 20,and continuing angularly downward into flanged shoulders 21, their inner, adjacent edges being in register and held in close proximity by the t'ensional pull of the fold 19.

These edges are adapted to be, forced slightly apart by a rib 22, formed on the under side, centrally and longitudinally of a locking strip 24., of corresponding length and having angularly and oppositely disposed wing elements 25 to engage over the flanges 21 and resiliently seat thereon.

Metal plates 26 are bent at their upper. ends, the curves terminating in angular extensions 27, adapted to be entered and resiliently secured between the elements 21 and 25 of the bars and locking strips 18 and 24 respectively.

These plates 26 bear upon their front surfaces characters, such as the letters of the alphabet, figures, etc, and may be made in any desired width and length.

In Figure 5 is shown a modification of the spring bars 28, in which the same are separated at the lower angularly converging part of the bar instead of the upper, wider portion as previously described and an arcuate groove 29 is found centrally in the upper element of the bar, to receive the rib element 22 of the locking bar.

The locking strip 30 is formed as before described and adapted to engage and resiliently close the opening 29 between the abutting edges ofthe spring bar 28.

'Constructionally, the spring bars 18 and the locking strips 24;, when used-iinrelat-ively small signs are preferably made as single units, While in signs of greaterlength, the spring bars are made up. of comparatively short lengths 18, whose ends abut one another,. as at 32,. and. thesesections are; held rigidly; in. longitudinal I alinement by; means, of short lengths 25k: 01; the locking,- strips which? are. arranged; as.- to break j pints, with the spring bar sections.

It Will-be. apparent; that any, number of barsimay be employed: as may be desired toibuiltll-up. signs of any requiredi heighti Itl isalso. evident, that. the character plates may bei applied to. either or to-botlr sides of the Sigmund. that the; framenmy be in vented; and. even. roughly, handled. without. danger of displacingthe sign plates.

Aspreviously menti0ned,.the bar anclstrip elements. extendlbeyoncl the. interior. length of. the. frame members and are. entered into. the grooved rabbets formedv in the end, mem.-- bers of! the, frame. 'While certain preferred embodiments '01". this device have been, shown, and, described it.v \Villi be, understood; that changes. in. the fbrin, arrangements, proportions, sizes. and I details tliereof'may, be madeiw-ithout. depart: ing from the" scope of the; inventionas de. fined inthezappended. claims.

Having thus descrihedimyinvention, what I cla-iinv as new and desiretfo secure by. Let: ten-Patent, i's,:

l; A sign: comprising; a. plurality. of. bars,

supponts,therefon,. character bearingplates engageable sel'ectiiveljyi with. any of said. bars. upon. either side. thereof, and; resilient strips interposedbetween. said. bars for. clamping said: plates to said.' bars.

2. A2 sign comprising; a. plurality of VI shapedbars having inturnedj fiangesontheir' upper. edges character. plates having angularlfytbent, upper. edges adapted' to be dis: posed. over said; flanges, and a spring, rail normally in.contactwith,saidlflanges adapted to clamp the. enteredi edge of. each. character.

plate.

3..rL sign: comprising a frame. having grooves in. its inner. sii1:i'aces,, channel bars disposed in: the. grooves. of the. upper: and lower frame members, hollow. symmetrical bars of triangular cross section having their ends disposed in the grooves of the end members of said frame, flanges extending from the upper, wider portion of said bars, said flanges presenting open spaces, strips equal in width to the widest portion of said bars, said strips being shaped to rest on said flanges, continuous beads formed cenl. A; changeable letter. sign. comprising a. ra-bbeted frame, a plurality of one piecespring bars longitudinally disposed and. arranged vertically one above. the other said barsbeing scoured at. their. ends within the.

side. rabbets. of said frame, lfoeking strips interposed betw eensa-Id'. spring bars and 1nterchangeabl'e sign letters resiliently engage-- able. between. said. spring bars and. the, ad jacenti locking, strips...

A changeable letter sign having a. rah-- betedi fra1ne,.\l shaped spring; bars having spaced lnturned upper portions, locking stripsengaged in-lthe mentioned spaces said strips consisting orv narrow oblong rectangular plates benti along the. center to form' an obtuse. angle. in section conformable with the; i'nturned". edges of. the spningbars, an

alienate. rib. "formed; from the,- a-pex offsaid obtuse angle; means. for tensional holding said rihwit'hiii. said" slot, and'means on the opposite side. of said locking plate. for en'- ga'ging an. adjacent spring bar.

6. A changeable letter sign comprising a plurality of. character carrying plates, x a rabbeted frame, a. plurality of spring bars disposed: longitudinally of the frame and composedLOi" one on more units of comparative, short length abutting; at their ends,

locking. strips engageable with said spring bars and'oflengths adapted to. break joints:

with. said. spring bars, said looking strips andspring bars being-arranged; one above the-other to present means between the stripsandibar members for holding, said? character carrying, plates.

Intestimony; whereof I.

name to this application.

SIEAES I. ATWKTER;

have signed my

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