US1649547A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Description

P. H. SCHNORMEIER ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Feb. 2l. 1927 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PAUL H. SCNORMEIER, OF HUBBARD, IOWA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application led February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,823.

The principal object of my invention is to providean illuminated sign which shall have the advantages oi signs now on the market but wherein only a minimum nurnber of incandescent light bulbs are used.

A further object is to provide an illuminated sign having detachableand adjustable reflector brackets.

A further objectis to provide an illuminated sign having adjustable brackets with removable rreflecting plates. i

A further object is to so arrange the reiectors in relation to the bulls eyes of the sign that an even distribution of reflected light of uniform intensity is obtained.

A further object is to provide an illuminated sign employing bulls eyes that are readily detachable from the `sign housing.

A still further objectof this invention is to provide an illuminated sign of relected light which is completely inclosed against troublesome insects.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion ot one `face of the sign. i

Fig. 2 is an inside view of a portion of the sign with the side of the sign removed.

F ig.^ 3 is a cross sectional view of my complete sign ready for use and is taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. s

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable relector frame with a portion cut away to more fully illustrate its construction.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1 and shows the means for securing the bulls eyes in the face of the sign.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a portion of the face of the sign showing the construction of the aperture into which the bulls eye is secured. y y

Fig. 7 is a top sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and more fully illustrates a means for receiving and holding a bulls eye in one of the apertures.

There are a ii'ew signs now on the market that use reflected light for illumination by passing it through openings. These signs are open and receive harmful foreign matter as well as attracting and receiving various kinds of insects into the sign housing which soon render the sign inoperative. Their reflectors are n'onadjustable and are subject to distortion consequential to handling the sign in transportation, installation, or main4 tenance. Their refiectors farthest fromvthe light source are dimmer than the reflectors close to the incandescent light bulb. Ihave overcome all these disadvantages by providing an inclosed sign with bulls eyesdesigned to receive re'liected light from adjustable and movable mirrors that are so designed and arranged as to deliver the same amount of light power to each bulls eye.

The numeral 10 designates a sign housing `having the hinged sides or faces 11 and 12.

The `wall 13 divides the housing into two separate compartments and thereby creates atwo-faced sign. On the outside of each face may be painted lettersll or other characters as are desired. These characters are studded with bulls eyes `15 arran ed in somewhat close association in the out ine of the letters. manently secured in a case 16' having the lugs-17 The lugs 17 of each case are designed to enter the notches 18 respectively of one of `the apertures 19. By rotating the` bulls eye a portion of a revolution the lugs engage the back of the depressed portion 20 adjacent each notch 18. This construction is fully` illustrated `in Figures 5, 6, `and 7. By this construction it willreadilybe seen These bulls eyes are each perthat if' illumination is produced back of the x bulls eyes the complete sign will be illuminated. Directly back of each bulls eye and secured to the wall 13 by suitable means is an ordinary split ball socket 21. The numeral 22 designates a ball in each one of the split sockets and secured to which is a reflector frame 23. This construction permits the reflector frame to be moved and held at various angles relative to its respective bulls eye. The top portion of each of these frames is open as shown in Fig. 4 thus allowing a small mirror 24 to be inserted into the frame. Mounted to the bottom and inside of the housing 10 are incandescent light bulbs 25. If the frames 23 are at the proper angle they will intercept the light rays vfrom the incandescent light bulbs and i reliectthem laterally to their respective bulls eyes. The light rays emanating from each of the bulls eyes, gives the appearance at a distance of a: separate sourcecf illumina-f tion back of each bulls eye. I find that by this arrangement a single incandescent light bulb is sufficient for one letter `or character. In order that the bulls 'eyes farthest from the incandescent light bulb will `have the same brilliancy as those closer to the incandescent light bulb I have placed the reflectors closer to the bulls eyes that are at a distance :troni `the incandescent bulb. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 and it will be noted that the distance between the reflector and the bulls eye `is in ratioto the distance of the reflector fromv the light bulb. This gives the complete sign a uniform appearance andperfects its displaying `qualities. `To accomplish the placement of some othe reflectors closed to their respective bulls eyes than otherreflectors, I have used split ball sockets as shown in Fig. 3 that entend a greater distance from the Wall 13.

In order that these split `ball sockets will successfully engage their respective balls,

the rivet 26 may be used to more securely bind the two split portions ofeach split ball socket together. Another advantage of hav ing the reflectors at various distances from the Wall i3 is that they do not conflict one with the other in intercepting the rays from the light bulb. This makes it possible to have a very narrow housing.

`By having the frames 23 o en at their top,'b roken mirrors may be rep aced therein very readily and easily.

`The bulls eyes may be of clear or colored glass and their removable feature makes it possible to change the color of the bulls eyes to suit the occasion.

Allsigns sooner yor later must be cleaned and painted and the adjustability of the reflecting frames makes this possible Without danger of getting the sign out of order. It is Inerelynecessary to'swing the side of the sign `open on its hinges and properly adjust the frames so thatthe light Will be directed properly to thev various bulls eyes. This adjustability` of the reflecting `frames also facilitates the adjustment of the complete jsign when it is installed.

'Ehe numeral 27 designatesopenings inthe Wall 13 so that the reflector fraineson both sides of the Wallnmay be adjusted from one side. i

It will readily be seen that I have produced a sign which is economical in manu facture and use and which willalipear, when in use, at a distance as a. sign wherein the letters are composed of a` plurality ot incandescent light bulbs.

Some changes may be made in construction Aand arrangement of my device Without dc parting iromthe real spirit and purpose ol my invention and itis my intention to cover by my claims any inodiied `:tonne of structifue'or usel oit mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included `Within `their scope. A i

I claim: M

l. In a device of the class described, `a sign housing having a hinged side,` said housing having openingsin euch of its two sides in the outlines of the letter or charac ter strokes to be displayed, a webbing in said housingand between said two sides, a lamp on cach side oi said webbing, and adjustable reflectors scoured toeach side of said webbing-for receiving and diverting light rays 'from said lamps to said openings; said webbing having "openings for per1nitting the adjustingjof saidreiiectors from one side ofthe said housing. e

2.111 adevice of the class describetha signhousing having two hinged sides, said sides each having openingsin the outlines of theletter or character strokes to be displayed, a webbing in said housing and between said sides, a plurality of ball sockets secured to each side of said webbing, acball in each of saidl sockets, a reflector secured to each ball, a lain) on each side of said welibing; said Webing having o enings for permitting the adjustment of a l of the reiiectors inthe housing from one side thereof.

lill

fill

3. ln a device of theclass described, a

housing having a hingedside, said housing having openings 1n each of its two sides 1n the outlines of the letter or character strokes to be displayed, a crystalfor cach of said adjustment of said reflectors from one side` `of said housing.

PAUL H. SCHNORMEIER.

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