US1760157A - Changeable display sign - Google Patents

Description

, y 7, 1930. G. MARGOLIN CHANGEABLE DISPLAY SIGN Filed March 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ge al g6 Inga/f 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1928 Gear 6 J24? 0/1?! 415 abl awent 8 May 27, 1930. I MARGQLIN 1,760,157

CHANGEABLE DISPLAY SIGN Fil ed March 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 27, 1930 UNETED PATENT.

G EORGE MARGOLIN, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIQNOB, TO OLAF USSING, OE EAST;RQCK- AWAY, NEW YORK l OHANGEAIBLE DISPLAY ,SIGN

Application flled March 31, 1928. Serial 110,266,407.

This invention relates todisplay signs and more particularly refers tothat class of signs where indications to be displayed mayUbe units, each adaptedltochange its own indication independently of the others;

Another objectis, to providein a display sign of'the character specified, a sectional unit construction permitting ready removal and replacement of each individual display element used to compose the indications to be displayed. i

A further object is to provide in a changeable sign of the type 'where web member or members wound upon two end reels and adapted to travel in either clirectioirfro none reel to the other, are used, meansfor controlling said reels, 1nsur1ng their being operated in their winding direction only, so

as to prevent the possibility. of the webmemher or members being operated in the wrong direction, causing aslack in the tract thereof interposed between the two reels.

A still'further object is to providea device of the class specified, of asimple and relatively inexpensive construction, said device being readily taken apart, sothat all of the elements of which the same is composed are readily accessible for inspection, operation and repairs.

With these and other objects in view, my invention furthermore comprises certain novel and improved constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter de;

- scribed and claimed in the appended claims.

My invention is particularly suitable for use in connection with display signs of the transparent type, where the display matter ppears through an opening provided in a casing, and where suitable light generating means are enclosed within said casing hou ever, most of the featurescharacterizing the present invention can also be used to ad to vantage in signs where the illumination of bol carried thereby.

which the sign is composed'i's ge r'a'll L i1 -111 -ll ta1ned;by connecting the two ends of each "'.\r L; web member to winding reels, and,by c '21, Y H ng the travel, ofsa d web, member b rection.

alphabetical characters, as well a maintaina correct aligm'nent there "winding reels .t teb y m uate jup rods extending for thef entire length I of th sign, ,Erach set:ofjreels 'a s"stated jbein g rothe display matter is obtainedfrom external sources, as will be understood. 5 1 The improvements forming the various objects of the present invention more particularly apply to that class of display signs side by side are used to' 'compos'e ant sp lay the various indications and inforiiiations that the sign is intended to convey; saitlw eb bers being individually operable, todi'slplay one oranother portion of their surffa oe eaolif time displaying a differentcharacter 'br syiil- In signsof this character, theindi vidual operation of the various web m be bf ob The webs used are of considerable length, and m each fco'n am a compl seer" s series of numbers from 1 tofO'and 'ad ci 4'! l L I symbols and blank spaces, lf de'siredf s tlfat i almost indication compr s wo r and numbers may beformed a'nddisplayed 1thin therange of the capacity of the srg'm', ich

of web members employed.

In such signs, the web members are generrange is mainly dependent number vided vvith' means :for the r m m in However,- I have found 1 in pract ce that while such a system of lie' wi'n'ding reels is' simple and, ea ene in inaintai n- (i -Se a e-vb fs lo tha il same f whereanumber of web membersbrraii ed one or the other direction mistakes freouent- 1 occur first in determinirn which one of the reels should be rotated and then in what direction it should be rotated, in order to effect the desired change.

When a reel is rotated in a direction opposite to its winding direction, a slack in the exposed tract of web inevitably occurs, and

this interferes with the readability of the display and also constitutes a fruitful source of damage to the paper webs themselves.

I have therefore sought to remedy this undesirable feature by providing a one way mechanism for rotating each reel exclusively in the winding direction, and also by providmg gulding means for the exposed portion of ill each web member, holding said exposed portion perfectly flat even if some slack should occur, in one or the other of the coiled portions of the web. 7

Besides, the features mentioned, I have furthermore improved the general construction of this class of devices, as will be apparent from the description. The various novel features of my invention will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sign of the transparent illuminated type embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View in an enlarged scale through line 41- 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a rear longitudinal section through line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front longitudinal section through line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is'a fragmentary cross sect1onal view showing in detail the manner of mounting a I transparent covering for the open front portion of the casing;

Fig. 8 is a detail side View in elevation of i one of the reel unit frames;

the same through line 1212 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the same in an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of rotating a reel in its winding direction.

The structure illustrated in said drawing, comprises a body or hollow casing 20, the front part of which 21 is open and a cover or front member 22 detachably connected to said casing. I r

- I prefer to connect these two parts together by means of a spring locking arrange ment, such as shown in the drawings, in which the two end surfaces of body or casing 20 are provided with coaxial laterally projecting studs 23, 24, and the two end walls 25, 26 of the cover or front member extend inwardly therefrom, to form lugs or projections such as 27, each provided with an opening to register and to interlock with said studs.

The material out of which said end walls 25, 26, is formed provides the necessary springiness, the same acting after the fashion of a leaf spring in snapping into engagement with said studs.

The cover or front member 22 consists of an outer plate 28 which is provided throu h its center with a longitudinal opening 29, said front plate having its edges folded over to form a shallow box as shown at 30. Another plate 31 also provided with a longitudinal opening 32 in correspondence of opening 29 is inserted within the shallow box formed by plate 28 and its turned over edges 30, leavin a clearance between the two plates adapted to receive a transparent member, preferably a glass plate 33.

The top and bottom edges of plate 31, are

also turned at right angle to said plate and.

abut against and are attached to turned over edge portions 30 of plate 28, while the end walls of said plate 31 are also bent at right angle and form the resilient end walls 25, 26 described.

The device furthermore comprises a number of reel frame units such as 34, which are detachably inserted ina longitudinal row side by side within the shallow box formed by plate 31; said reel frame units remaining locked in position when housing 20 and cover or front member 22 are joined together in the manner described, as will be explained.

As Fig. 8 to 13. clearly show, each reel frame unit comprises two open front end reel housings 35, 36 connected by plate 37 integral therewith which is substantially in line with the open front portion of said housings. Said plate acts as a backing member for a web 38 running over the same from a reel 39 to a reel 40 inserted within said housings 35, 36 respectively.

By virtue of this construction, there is a clearance space 41, back of plate'3'? between the two inner sides of the reel housings, which forms an elongated chamber at the rear of plate 81 when the reel frame units are arranged side by side with their front surface directly opposite the inner surface of said plate 31, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The width of the front part 42 of casing 26 corresponds to the width of the chamber formed by clearance spaces ll so that when parts 20, 22 are joined together the front part d2 of part is inserted between the reel hou ings, with its front edge 43 resting directly against the rear surface of backing plates 2? of the reel unit frames.

It is therefore apparent that when parts 2O, 2:2, are assembled as shown in Fig. l, the

unit reel frames are securely locked in position, being clamped between the front ear- 43 of part 20 and the rear surface of p e 31, while the major portion of the reel hens ings projects beyond the over turned edge or border portions 30 of plates 28, 31, being thus completely exposed and accessible,

The unit reel frames are set in position and their correct alignment is insured in y suitable manner. The drawings show the preferred way of positioning and retaining said units in position, the same comprisii g the use of two end lugs l l, 4:5, turned rearwardly from plate 31 at right thereto, centrally of each reel frame spacing.

The outer sides of the reel housings are in their turn formed with correspo pressions 46, within which lugs a l, adapted'to be inserted with close lit. therefore obvious that in order to insei reel unit frames in position, it is suffice to place them against the inner surface of late 31, causing lugs 44, to enter and to interlock with depressions 46. The pressure exerted by lugs i l, 45, is quite sufficient for frictionally retai ing'the unit fro siticn; at the same time they prevent lateral displacements t...ereof, and insure tl correct transversal position and spacing, as will be understood.

The web members 38 are preferably made of thin transparent material rendered opaque around the outlines of the letters or symbols displayed thereby, or else rendered opaque through the body of the letters or symbols. The device is f" rthermore completed by providing some suitable light generating means, such as electric bulbs 4:7 for instance, spaced r lthin casing 20, and by coa the inside surfaces of said cas'ng 20 with ble light reflec g material or past, i e from the bulb to be ed directly towards the front opening of the cat and through the exposed part or tic web men A s regisering therewith.

Jhen the sign of this transparent type, plat-es re provided. with a central lg shown in dotted lines at through PL @L 131 whichthe light issuing from the casing at rear may reach the rearsurface of the F or the displayed matter to be plainly readable without distortions, itwis essential that the exposed portion of the webs be held perfectly flat, and therefore 1- provide guides for the edges thereof,,in the nature of flanges .48 49 formed b 1 foldin inwardl: 1 over the side edges of the web the edges of plate or hacking member 37, aslfigs. 9, l2-clearly snow.

The front of each web interposed between its two reel housings is therefore held in the proper position at all times, even if there (lne of the ways in whichthisend can be attained is illustrated in the drawings, in which the reels are shown composed of a tubular member 51 havinganaxially projecting stud'52 fixed atone, end, and another stud 53 at the other end axially movable;

within said tubular member.

A coiled spring 54 is insertedzwithinthe tubular member and tends to force stud:53 outwardly. The arrangement is such that when stud 53' is forced inwardly byi'applyingz 1 pressure with the finger, stud 52 maybe 1n- -serted in a corresponding opening or support through the wall of; itshousing, and then the reel itself may be movedto its normal position within the housing until stud 53 registers withanother opening: or support through the opposite side of the housing, coaxial with the opening through which stud 52 was transverselyinserted.

Spring 54 is then free to force-stud 53 outwardly through said opening,and the reel is thus rotatably inserted in its housing. In order to remove the reel it islsuficient to force in stud 53 against the action of spring 54: and to once more extract the reel-froin the housing. By virtue of this arrangement, I obtaln a reel of an exceedmgly simpleoand lnexpensive nature, and atthe same time as will be observed,'I provide a reel tending at all times to remain snugly set between its supports, stud '53 urged outwardly by the action of spring54 providing a frictional braking action which is effective in. maintaining the reel at its set position at all times. 7

The rotation of each reel in its winding directionis effected by a one way-mechanism comprising a driven element mounted onsaid reel, an actuator, and an elementibecoming' operative by the movement'of-said-actuator.

engaging said driven element to rotate said reel.-

The preferred form of reel actuating mech anism is shown in Figs. 9., 11, 12, 13 of the drawings, the same comprising a ratchet wheel mounted on the partof stud 52 projecting through the wall of the housing, said ratchet wheel having its teeth out to effect the rotation of the reel in its winding direction.

The arrangement furthermore comprises an actuating lever 56 carrying a pawl 57, pivotally mounted at 58 and a spring 59 urging said pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, as shown in Fig. 13. Lever 56 is provided with a radially'extending catch 60 projecting beyond the periphery of the reel housing against which said lever abuts, providing means for operating said lever in the winding direction.

The lever is normally held in its inoperative position shown in Fig. 11 by the action of a tension spring 61, attached at one end to the side of the casing as shown at 62, and at the other end 63 to said lever. By causing an angular displacement of the lever, shown in Fig. 13, in a clockwise direction, spring 61 is extended increasing its tension, so that as soon as the lever is released, the spring will automatically return it to its normal or inoperative position.

In order to make all the parts as narrow as possible, spring 61 is practically on the same plane with the lever 56 and therefore the inner part of the lever is formed with a segmental rib 64 providing a supporting surface for the spring when in its extended position shown in Fig. 13.

When lever 56 is moved in a clockwise direction therefore, the corresponding reel is rotated in its winding direction, and in the same manner when the other lever 56 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, its corresponding reel is also rotated in its winding direction.

As stated before, it is desirable in devices of this kind to prevent the possibility of one or the other reel being rotated in the wrong direction; at the same time each reel should always. be free to rotate in the unwinding direction when the other reel is being rotated in its winding direction.

For this condition to exist therefore, it is necessary to make it possible for ratchet wheel 64 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and for ratchet wheel 64 to rotate in a clockwise direction, when urged to do so by the unwinding movement of their respective reels. This result is obtained by causing pawls 57 57 to abut against a cam surfaced stop member 65,65 when the levers 56, 56=are held by their spring 61', 61', in

their normal or inoperative position, shown in Fig. 11. Stops 65, 65 are so arranged that by enacting with the pawls 57 57 abutting thereagainst, they force said pawls out of engagement with their respective ratchet wheels against the action of their respective springs 59, 59'.

For this to occur it is sufiicient that springs 61, 61, be strong enough to overcome whatever resistance may be offered by springs 59, 59, to the disengagement of the pawls from their respective ratchet wheels, as will be understood.

By virtue of this arrangement, both reels are therefore free to rotate in one or the other direction at all times, but are frictionally held in their respective positions by their pressure exerting studs 53, 53, as explained. The ratchet wheels themselves are not accessible to the operator since the various unit frames are set in position side by side, and can only be operated by means of their catches 60, 60', which as explained, project beyond the surface of the reel housas Figs. 4, 5, clearly shown. These catches can only be moved in one direction, that is, towards the rear of the frame, said direction being the winding direction of the reels controlled thereby, because stops 65, 65 prevent their being moved in the opposite direction; and as soon as one or the other lever 56, 56 is moved in the winding direction, by means of its respective catch, pawl 57 or 57 will be free to move into engagement with the ratchet wheel due to the action of its spring 59, or 59, and will cause said ratchet wheel to follow the movement of said actuating lever. The angular movement of the actuating levers permitted by the construction shown inFig. 4, for instance, is about 120 and is quite suflicient to permit their quick operation of the various web members in order to change the indications displayed thereby.

In the general construction of the casing 20, I have introduced a, few additional features which go to further improve the structure and which I will now describe.

One of these features resides in the method of applying a transport covering such as a glass plate 66 to the open front part of casing 20. In the construction shown, the casing is formed with a lining 67 of sheet metal which is bent in an inverted loop 68 at the rear forming a longitudinal chamber 69 with the rear wall. of the casing, said chamber v69 providing a convenient housing for the elecagainst shoulder 70 and is then retained in Edge 43 is preferably formed position by means of tie rods 71 extending at intervals across opening 21, said tie rods being connected to the sides of the front part of casing 20 by screws 72 or by any other suitable means. These tie rods are very effective in strengthening the entire structure and in imparting rigidity to the open front part of the casing; at the same time they can be easily removed for the purpose of removing or replacing the glass covering.

Another feature which is new in this class of devices is the provision of a longitudinal opening 78, along the bottom or the top wall or both of the casing, directly opposite the electric bulbs, and a cover or closure 7 4 controlling the same.

In the construction shown, opening 73 is provided through the lower wall of the casing, and closure 74 is made in the form of a door pivotally mounted onto the casing as shown at 7 5 and adapted to be retained in its closed position by catches 76. v If the door is released from its catches and is allowed to han down from its hinges, the light generatzd by the bulb will flood the space underneath and will serve to illuminate merchandise or other articles advertised by the sign.

If the sign is turned upside down, opening 73 will remain on top and door 74 can be i opened and folded over to the rear allowing the light issuing from the bulbs to illuminate the space above the sign and any articles displayed therein.

Still another feature resides in a system of small spaced openings or inlets 7 6 provided through the lower wall of the casing preferably at the front thereof, and similar spaced openings oroutlets 7 7 provided through the upper wall of the casing preferably at the rear. These openings provide means for admitting to and exhausting air from the casing respectively, the draft flowing therethrough passing right across the bulbs and effectively cooling the inside of the casing.

The sign may be hung up by means of hooks 7 8 extending from the upper wall of the easing, or else studs 23, 24, may be threaded as shown at 79 to receive screws 80 by means of which said studs may be secured to support-- ing brackets such as 81, 82.

The embodiment of the various novel features described, may vary to a certain extent from the one shown in the drawings without substantially departing from the inventive idea; the drawings will therefore be under-v stood as being intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limiting sense. I accordingly reserve myself the right to carry my invention into practice in all those ways and manner which may enter, fairly, into the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a plurality of individual unit frames detachably carried thereby, arranged in longitudinal series, each unit frame carrying two reels and a sign dis.- playing web mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction,said unit frames being arranged side by side, so as to cause said webs to travel transversely of their serial arrangement, the reels of each frame being operable independently of the reels of the others.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a main frame, of a plurality of individual unit frames detachably carried thereby, arranged in longitudinal series, each unit frame carrying two reels and a sign displaying web mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction, and means for retaining said unit frames in position within said frame,

permitting the removal or replacement of each unit frame in position independently of the others. I

3. In a device of the class described, a web carrying frame comprising two open front end reel housings and aweb backing member integral therewith interposed therebetween, said member being provided with means for guiding the edge of a web member traveling from one of said housings to the other.

4'. In a device of the class described, a Web carrying. frame comprising two open front end reel housings and a web backing member integral therewith interposed between the open front ends thereof, said web backing member having its edges bent inwardly to form guides for the edges, of a web member traveling from one of said housingsto the other. y 5. In a device of the class described, a web driving mechanism comprising a frame, two reels rotatably mounted on said frame, a web member wound upon said reels and adapted to travel t-herebetween in one or the other direction, a normally inoperative one way driving mechanism associated with each reel, adapted to rotate said reel in its winding direction, said mechanism comprising an element carried by said reel, a manually operable controlling lever pivoted coaxially of said reel, a member movably mounted on said lever adapted to engage said reel element when the lever is angularly displaced in the winding direction, means urging said movably mounted member into engagement with said reel element, means normally retaining said lever in its inoperative position, and means forcing said movably mounted member out of engagement with said reel element, when said lever is in its inoperative position.

6. In a device of the class described, a Web driving mechanism comprising a frame, two reels rotatably mounted on said frame, a web member wound upon said reels and adapted to travel therebetween in one or the other direction, a normally inoperative pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with each reel, adapted to rotate said reel in its winding direction, said mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel carried by said reel, a lever pivoted coaxially of said reel, a pawl carried by said lever, a spring mounted on said lever urging said pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet wheel, a spring normally resaid unit frames being arranged side by side,

so as to cause said webs to travel transversely of their serial arrangement, and a rear member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, locking said unit frames in position.

8. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a front cover having a display opening, a plurality of individual unit frames detachably mounted in longitudinal arrangement within said cover, each unit frame carrying two reels and a sign displaying web, mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the. other direction, said unit frames being arranged side by side, so as to cause said webs to travel transversely of theirserial arrangement, and a rear member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, said cover being formed with spring acting lateral extensions, adapted to snap into engagement with said rear member, locking said unit frames in position.

9. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a front cover having a displayopening, a plurality of individual unit frames each comprising two end reel housings and a web backing member interposed therebetween, mounted in longitudinal arrangement within said cover, each unit frame carrying two reels and a sign displaying web,

mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction, said unit frames being arranged side by side, so as to cause said webs to travel transversely of their serial arrangement, means external to each frame for operating its reels, and a rear member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, having a part extending to the rear of said web backing members, between Said reel housings, leaving exposed said h0usings and reel operating means, locking said unit frames in position.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a front cover having a display opening, a plurality of individual unit frames detachably mounted in longitudinal arrangement within said cover, each unit frame carrying two reels and a transparent sign displaying web, mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction, said unit frames being arranged side by side, so as to cause said webs to travel transversely of their serial arrangement, a rear member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, locking said unit frames in position, and light generating means mounted within said rear member.

11. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a cover having a front display opening, a plurality of web members mounted side by side therein, said web members being movable across said opening in either direction, and a rear member adapted tobe detachably connected to said cover, said cover being formed with spring acting rearward extensions adapted to snap into engagement with said rear member, connecting said two parts to each other.

12. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a cover having a front display opening, an open front rear body member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, light generating means mounted within said rear body member, an opening 1 through one of the longitudinal walls of said rear body member, and a door member controlling said longitudinal wall opening.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing comprising a cover having a front display opening, a plurality of transparent sign displaying webs mounted side by side therein, and an open front rear body member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, of light generating means mounted within said rear body member, and a transparent'covering for the open front thereof, said covering being detachably mounted on said rear body member, and being bodily detachable therewith,

from said cover.

14. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising a cover having a front display opening, an open front rear body member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, light generating means mounted within said rear body member, and openings through the top and bottom walls of said rearbody member, allowing air to ventilate the inside thereof.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a casing comprising a cover having a front display opening, and an open front rear body member adapted to be detachably connected to said cover, of

light generating means mounted within said rear body member, a transparent covering for the open front thereof, said covering being detachably mounted on said rear body member, and being bodily detachable therewith, from said cover, and openings through the top and bottom walls of said rear body member, allowing air to ventilate the inside thereof.

16. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising an open front body and a front cover having a display opening, detachably connected thereto, a plurality of individual unit frames each carrying two spaced reels and a transparent sign displaying web mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction, light generating means mounted within said body, a transparent covering carried by said body for the open front thereof, an opening through one of the transversal walls of said body, a door controlling said transversal wall opening, and a normally inoperative one way driving mechanism associated with each reel.

17. In a device of the class described, a casing comprising an open front body and a front cover having a. display opening, detachably connected thereto, a plurality of individual unit frames each carrying two spaced reels and a transparent sign displaying web mounted upon said reels, adapted to be wound upon one of said reels and unwound from the other in one or the other direction, light generating means mounted within said body, a transparent covering carried by said body for the open front thereof, an opening through one of the transversal walls of said body, a door controlling said transversal wall opening, openings through said transversal walls allowing air to ventilate the inside of said body, and a normally inoperative pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with each reel, adapted to rotate said reel in its winding direction, said mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel carried by said reel, a lever pivoted coaxially of said reel, a pawl carried by said lever, a spring mounted on said lever urging said pawl into operative engagement with said ratchet, a spring normally retaining said lever in its inoperative position, and a stop member forcing said pawl out of engagement with said wheel, when said lever is in its inoperative direction.

GEORGE MARGOLIN.

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