US1616163A - Sign - Google Patents

Description

Feb. l 1927.

H. F. ANDERSON SIGN Filed oct. 6, 1924 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES HARRY F. ANDERSON, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES BOYCE, 0F LAKETON, MICHIGAN.

1 SIGN.

Application led October 6, 1924-. Serial No. 741,800.

Interiorly illuminated signs are commonly formed ot so-called glass letters, each letter consisting of a rectangular plate having a letter or other character embossed thereon. The entire letter or panel is molded or otherwise formed of opal glass or other suitable translucent material. In order to give the character strokes the necessary detiniteness or prominence, the portion of the plate surrounding the character strokes is covered by means of a sheet-metal stencil.

There is another class of signs in which the glass character is mounted in a suitable translucent background ot contrasting color made up of pieces of glass held together by lead. Such leaded glass signs are relatively expensive on account of the considerable amount'of skilled labor required in producing the leaded glass.

The present invention has reference to both of the above-mentioned classes of signs. One object of the invention is to obtain the pleasing effect of a leaded glass sign Without the expense involved in the use of leaded glass. Other objects are to eliminate the expense of the sheet-metal stencil heretofore employed', to impart added strength to the letter, and to protect the inner side of the character from an accumulation of dust.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ot an electric sign embodying the Yfeatures of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a tace view of one ot the panels or sign units comprised in the sign.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken in the line of 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Figs. 2 and 3, each panel or sign unit comprises a backing 1 Which may be of transparent colorless glass; a letter or other character 2 molded of opal glass or the like, the strokes or parts ot the letter or other character being convexo-concave, clearly shown in Fig. 3; and a background 3 surrounding the letter or other character and of the same height and Width as the backing 1. The background 3 is made up of a number ot pieces of glass 3a fitted together to occupy the space around the letter. rIhe pieces 3a are preferably of translucent glass and of a color contrasting With that of the letter 2, as, for example, a mottled blue. The letter@ and the pieces 3a may be secured to the backing 1 by means of a suitable `cement 4.

Letters or sign units such as the one described may be employed in making up signs in various Ways. In Fig. 1 I have shown a sign casing 5, the front of which constitutes a frame 6 having a plurality of rectangular openings 7 to receive letters or sign units. rThe openings 7 are somewhat smaller than the sign units, and thus the t'ront Wall or frame 6 overlaps the edges of each sign unit.l The sign units may be secured in place Within the casing 5 in any preferred manner.

It will be apparent that a sign constructed as herein disclosed has the appearance of being composed of embossed letters mounted in leaded glass panels. A very attractive efl'ect is thus obtained at relatively small cost.

It Will be noted that the opacity or translucency required to define the letter and give it the necessary prominence is obtained by means of the translucent background 3 and Without the use of sheet-metal stencils, such as have heretofore been commonly used in signs of the general type herein referred to.

The glass plate 1 imparts strength and rigidity to the unit or panel and also keeps dust and dirt out of the concave side of the letter 2.

When the sign is illuminated, the lines ot cement 4 produce substantially the same optical effect as the lead in leaded glass. The appearance ot leaded glass and the function of securing the letter 2 and pieces 8 to the backing 1 are thus obtained at a small fraction of the cost of leaded glass.

I claim as my invention:

1. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a backing plateof transparent colorless glass, a character of convexe-conn cave cross-section made of translucent glass7 a background formed of pieces of translucent glass of a color contrasting with that of the character, and lines of cement securing the character and the pieces forming the background to the backing plate, said background being ot substantially the same outside dimensions as said backing plate.

2. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a glass backing plate, a character of convexo-concave cross-section made of translucent glass, a background formed of pieces of translucent glass of a color contrasting with that of the character, and lines of cement securing the character and the pieces forming the background to the backing plate.

3. A panel or unit for signs having, in combination, a glass backing plate, a character of convexe-concave crosssection made of translucent glass, a background o'l' translucent glass of a color contrasting with that of the character` and lines of cement securing the character and the background to the hacking plate.

1l. A panel or unit 'lor signs having` in combination a glass hacking plate. a character of couvexoconeave crossseetiou made of translucent glass. a background oi translucent glass of a color contrasting; with that ot' the character. said character` background and backing plate being secured together.

5. A sign comprising a casing, the Jfront Wall of which has an opening therein7 a sign unitexposed through said opening, said sign unit comprising a glass backing plate of the same general outline as said opening7 a charactor ot' convexe-concave cross-section made. of translucent glass, and a translucent background of a color contrasting with that of' the character, said character, background and backing plate being secured together.

G. A sign comprising a casing, the front Wall of which has aplurality of rectangular openings therein. a sign unit exposed through each of said openings, each of said sign. units comprising a rectangular transparent glass backing` plate, a character' of convexe-concave crossesection made of translucent `glass and a translucent background covering the exposed portion of the backing plat@ and of a color contrastingV with that of the character, said character` background and backing plate being secured together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARRY F. ANDERSON.

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