US1777734A - Street sign - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1930. REYNOLDS 1,777,734

- STREET SIGN Filed Oct. 31. 1929' s Sheets-Sheet 1 'TAT E 9T imllliil Hai /3115. .Efyrzolcts MM; m

Oct. -7, 1930. H. H. REYNOLDS STREET S IGN 31, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3 Patented Oct. 7, 1930- I f IAR'RY H. nnvnotnsor ciHIcAeo, ILLINOIS, 'AssIenon T'O'ALFRED M. RYCKOFF, or

1 CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS *srannr SICGN Application fi1ed ctoher 3}, 1929.;Seria1 No. 403,882.

The present invention relates to street signs, and is' particularly"concerned .w1th

v signs ofthe type adapted tobe attached to f ble of utilizingto the best advantage, the illumination provided by the street lamp street lights or parts thereof.

. The signs of the prior art have not been" universally applicable tomodern street lamps of all kinds, nor have they been capaunder all conditions for lighting the sign at night,without casting disagreeable shadows or obscuring the lamp. The prior devices sign structure in place while it is being sew lamps with great difi'iculty, on account of the problem involved in holding the heavy metal cured by bolts or other fastening devices. f WVhen the sign is of any substantial size and constructed of cast metal, as is usually the case, it is particularly diflicult to" hold the sign in place and at the same time secure it to the post or other parts of the lamp, because the signs'a-re usually located at such a height that it is necessary to use one or more ladders, and the prior signs must ordinarilybe supported at both sides by one or more workmen, while other workmen adjust the securing devices provided. One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved street sign which is universally applicable to prac tically all kinds of modern street lamps, or which is applicable to morelamps than the deviceso'f the prior art, and which may be adjustedto utilize the illumination to the best proved street sign structure, which is caparounding terrain.

Another object is the provision oi an-improved street sign structure, which is capa .ble of more-economical manufacture than the prior devices, more durable and capable of advantage for lighting the signs and the surmore permanent and firm attachment to' nodern'street lamp structures.

Another ObJBClJ is the prov sion of an 1m- .ble of being attached to street-lamps and adjusted or secured with a minimumamount 0f effort, and withoutthe necessity of the street lamp.

assistance of several laborers, or lifting devices for holding the sign in place while it is being secured tothe post or other parts of the .Anotherobject of the invention is the proyision of an improved lamp structure, which is adapted to automatically center itself, and provided with means for guidingthe various supportingelements into proper position.

Another object is the provision ofan improved method of installing street lamp signs which is applicable to many different forms of the improved structure shown herein, and which results in asubstantial'saving of time,

labor and expense in the installation of the signs. e 7

Other objects and advantages dot the invention'. will be apparent from the followingdescription, and from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of ref: erence indicate similar parts throughout the several views. r Referring to the drawings, of which there are three sheets;

Fig 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp equipped with a signconstructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a plan view with the globe or lamp in section, in order to reveal the construction of the sign unit;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the corner structure of the sign unit;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the parts of the securing and supporting unit;

F ig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line S c-1t Fig. 2, showing the structure ofthe automatic centering device;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the lamp unit and supporting unit as the device appears after the, first step in the installation of the signs i I v r Fig. '7 is a plan View in partialsection of a modifiedformzofconstruction; v i F igLS is another view in elevatiomof the 'modified construction broken away to show other details of structure of the device.

Referring to Fig. 1-, 10 indicates in its'en tirety the lamp unit which may'consist of a post 11 or other support usually rovided with ametal ring 12 for supportinga globe 13, or other'luminous body, having an electric bulb or an equivalent source of 1llum1nat1on located inside the globe 13 for illuminating the surrounding terrain.

It should be understood that the globe13 may be of any shape or equ valent structure, and the source of illuminationprovided may be any of the conventional sources-of 111mm- 1 nation capable of being employed 'with the particular type of globe used. V

The'sign unit is indicated in its entirety by the number 14, and the sign unit 14 preferably-f includes a framework 15 surrounding said globe and carriedby either of the supports 11 or 12,-,for locating a plurality of sign carrying frames '16 in the best position to utilize the V illuminationprovided.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. lto 5, the framework 15 preferably comprises 'a plurality of radially extending arms 1?, the middle portion of which may be ofsubstantially 8- shape in order to'iinprove the ornamental appearance of thesign and to bring the signs into a position which is most desirable with certain types of lamps. The supporting arms 17 are provided at .their inner end with a substantially horizontally extending part 18, having a lower seatingsurface 19 for receive ing the radiallyextending arms 20 carried,

by the securing and supporting unit 21.

In order to accomplish the functi on of automatically centering and locating the sign unit upon the supporting unit 21, the horizontal parts 18 of the arms 17 may belirovided with depending flanges 22 forming a recess or groove for recelvmg the radial Sll l')I)()1l111.

arms 20 of the supporting unit 21, it should be understood that in some embodiments of the invention the flanges 22 may be carried by the arms 20 of the supporting unit forming a guide in the top of the arm 20 for receiving a complementary member on the sign unit.

The framework 14;, surrounding the globe 1.3, also includes vertically extending parts 23 on each ofthe radial arms 17 for the purpose of fixedly or ad ustablysupporting a plurality of sign carrying frames 16.

Each ofthe vertically extending parts or corners 23 is illustrated .indetail in Fig. 3, and i it will be observed that in this embodiment,

the arm 17 is provided with an integral upv wardly extendingcorner member having a pair of flanges 2% and 25 at rightangles to each other. At their lower ends, each of the flanges 24: and 25 is provided with an aperture for receiving screw bolts 26 passing through the flanges 24, 25 and threaded into the flanges 27 on the sign carrying frames 16 for pivot.- ally supporting the bottom of the sign frames during adjustment and fixedly supporting the frames when the sign unit has been installed as desired.

' "Eachof the flanges'24 and 25 is provided atits top with a lateral extension or arcuate portion 28, each of which may be provided with any umber of apertures 29 for receiving screw bolts 30 to secure the sign frames 16 in any of a plurality of positions.

It will be understood that the apertures 29 with the axisof the bolts 26 as a center, but the extensions 28 need not necessarily be arcuate in shape, but arepreferably made soto save material and decrease the weight of the assembly.

.The various sign frames 16 may be identical in shape and it should be understood that any number of sign frames may beemployed, so that whilethe present sign unlt is rectangular in plan, a sign might also be constructed whichwould be liexagonal in plan if it were desired to accommodate the sign unit in an'intersection having three streets. In such case, the sign frames 'would naturally be shorter and the angle between the flanges 25 and 2t and the number of arms would be changed-accordingly.

work, and the bottom frame member31 may be provided with one or more inwardly extending flanges 37 located at the middle or ends. or extending cempletely along the bottom for supporting the weight of the sign 36. The flanges 27' and flange37 are preferably provided with resilient'metal fingers 38 extending substantially parallel to the rear side of the sign frame 16, but spaced therefrom so that the fingers 38 form guides.

for the rear sideofthe sign 36,.and also form securing devices for resiliently engagingthe signs 36 when they are in place.

"The signsBSma'y consist of any material which is capable of receiving printed or other characters, and capable of transmittingsome light so that the characterswill be illuminated by the unequal transmission of light through the characters and back ground, and

the term translucent is used in this specification and claims for designating all mate rials of this character, such as ground glass,

painted glasls, ground glass with painted letters, etc.

Referring to Fig. 4, one of the elements of the securing and supporting unit is illus-' trated in perspective in this figure. ment illustrated in Fig. .t'may consist of an arcuate'metal clamping member 39, preferablyprovided with an inner cylindrical surface 40, which is complementary .to the outer are located upon the arc of a circle drawn r The ele V 1 apertures e16 of sufficient size to pass the heads.

.of the screws-4:5 and the apertures16 .rnay be elongated for the purpose of permltting rotary adjustment'of-ithe supportmgumtfon clamping bolts 13 "which are 'curedby hut/$414. 1"

surface of the metal supporting ring12 which carries theglobe 13. x

Under certain conditions, thepresent s gn may alsoibe secureddirectly to the post 10,

but lamp-post or; other supporting 7 devices are made of a vast number ofdifferent shapes,

- and frequently .provided with ornamental and the provision of a securingunit whichris adapted to be applied to. a metal part, rather than to *the; concrete, greatly IIICIGRSBS the durability andgpermanence ,of securement to the lamp,;q,

- 7 Each ofthe clamping elements 39 provided with a radially,extending flange 41 having an} aperture 12,.for receiving the Since-the la-mpisupporting V V ordin rily providedjwith screws 15' forengagement with the lower rim of the globe 1'3, 7

the' clamping elements 39 are provided with the :ring 12. 'Vlhenthe supporting unit 21 is supported in clan'lpingrelation-tothe ring 12 orpost. 11,it will be observed that spaces usually exist between the radial flanges 41,

therebyproviding additional means for adiustment'and location of the clamping members39 on the ring 12 with respect to the existing screw heads 45. a

Each of the clamping members 39 is provided with an outwardly extending. supporting arm 20, preferably tapered to secure a maximum strength for a mnnmunramount of material and provided with anupper supvporting 'surfac'ez48 adapted to engage the seating-surface 19- on the 'bottomof the arms 17 carriedbythe sign un t. The-horizontal portion 18 of the arms liis providedwith an'zqaerture forreceivinga securing-bolt 49,

and the. supporting arm '20 is provided with anelongated slot eofor achustably recelv-i ing the bolt ltlto securejarms 17 andQO to gether.

of the -slot 5 0 in registrynwith the aperture for bolt 49 in arm :17. y

As previouslydescribed, the supporting arm 20 is adapted to be slidably received in a complementary groove between flanges 22, so

as to assist in the location and automatic cenm' f r y a rings are tering of the sign unitupon'the supporting jllnita The provision of aplurality'of-se'p arate 'clamping members 39 with relatively lon curing bolts 43 also increases the amount of adjustment which maybe made to. clamp rings ,or posts of different sizes. The sign unit illustrated in Figs l to 5 is best adapted to utilized on posts where the lamp 13 is of such a height that it is more desirable that the sign belocated near the top of the lamp 13, thereby permitting utilization of all of the light radiated from thelo-wer part ofthe lamp for lllumlnating theterrain without casting shadows on the ground. sizes, and provided with firm and durable lconnection'to the lamp-post onothe'r device,

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in F igs.' 7 andS, this modified form of construcfl- Q11 1S best adapted to be used where it is desired'to locatethe ,sign unit slightly below the luminous body 13. In this construction the supporting unit 21, signframes 16 and signs 33, may be identical in construction to that previously described, but the framework of the present device is; peculiarlyadapted to support 'theframes in a 'di'lfenent manner and greatly reduce the deaclaveight' of the sign t 7,.

"In this embodiment, the framework consists bf a plurality of radially extending arms 52;having their inner ends 53 of sub'stan- Itially' the same shapeas that previously described. The arms 52 may be straight so that they extend fout horizontally, or, if desired,

they may be provided with a downward'curye to locate the slgn unit lower, and the outer ends of thearms52 and 53 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 54 and 55 which 1 are located at right angles to each other, and diagonally with respect to the radial arm 52.

Each of theflanges 54; and 55 may be provided with a plurality of apertures for receiv ingscrew bolts 56 for securing the upper portion of the sign frames 16 to the arm 52' in the same manner as in the previous embodiment. v I

The lower and adjacent corners of the sign frames 16 are pivotally secured to each other by providinga right angle bracket 57 having 1 a pair of'flanges, each of which is provided with an aperture for receiving screw bolts 58 adjacent sign frames. I i The slgn frames of this device arealso capable of. angular ad ustment to utilize the which are threaded into the'fiaugesQ'T of the I illumination to the best advantage, but the frames depend fromy-their supporting arms 7 Y 7 so that the structure of the supporting arms slot permits radial adjustnientof, the clamping members 39 to fit'postsor rlngs of any size, whilestilimaintaining'some partsign unitsis as follows. The supporting unit 21 is first secured toa partof the post, preferably the ring-12 which carries the globe 13,

I, and this maybe done by assembling partof the supporting unit-ton the ground and com.- 1

pleting the assembly at the top of the post.

ill!

' unit may he slid Ion two ofthe radial arms be can hold the supporting unit withlone hand and manipulate his tools with the other. Fig. .6 illustrates the completion of the first step inthe installation of signs. a

The signs should preferably be removed from the sign unit, while'it is being installed, in order to eliminate breakage and decrease the weight, and the sign may be assembled 011 the ground before application to the post, Q v

' bodiment of my invention, many modificawith the exception of one corner, and the tightening of the respective bolts. lVith one corner open and the bolts loosened. the frames may be sprung apart to permit the sign unit to be placed about thebottom of the post, after a which the assembly may be completed and the bolts tightened. In some cases it may be found desirable to nsert. the slgns on the ground, after the unit is assembled aboutthe st. v

P The sign unit 14L may then be raised about the post 11 and the arms 17, being located to preventinterference with the arms; the

sign unit may be raised above the supporting unit 21, rotated slightly and seated upon the pp ting arms 21. When this is done, it is only necessary to. effect a preliminary seating of any twoof the arms 17 upon the arms 20 of the supporting unit 21, after which the sign 20 until the otherarms 17come into registry with the other two radial arms 20, when the flanges-22 will automatically center and locate 0f the bolts 19 and ifnecessary, other bolts the sign unit. In some embodimentsof the invention,

where theornamentationof the top of thepost is too large to pass the ends of the arms 17, the sign'umt may be assembled entlrely on the ground .and lifted over the topof the globe 13,

provided the globe is small enough to clear the ends ofthe arms 17, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1 In extreme cases where the globe is too large, the present sign unit may be quickly installed by removing the globe. After the sign unit is properly located, the arms 17 are secured to the arms 20 by means may be loosened or tightened to insure horizontal and symmetrical location of the signs. 7

I It will thus be observed that the present in sign unit may be installed with much greater facility than the devices of the prior art, be-

cause the sign unit may be assembled on .the'

ground and merely lifted and supported in place by the supporting unit, while thebolts are fastened. This eliminates the necessity for a number of extra workmen in the in V stallation of the signsyparticularly where the signs are constructed ofcast metal, and are therefore of considerable weight. The present method of installation, however, has

' substantial advantages with signs. of practica lly any weight, because it is a diflicult matter to both support'ithe weight of the sign it is desired. s

also adapted to uti-' in place and at the sametime secure it where The present, signs are lize to the best advantage, the illumination provided by. practically all types of modern street lamps, by meansof the angular adjustmerit of the sign frames, and by means of above'or below the globe. a a

While I have, illustrated a preferred em- Patent of the United States, is: I

1. A street sign assembly, comprising a street lamp lobe, a metal annulus for supporting said globe, and a street sign ha'vinga translucent member adapted to be illuminated by said globe, said street sign including a plurality of clamping members having recesses tOTBCGlVG securingdevices carried by said annulus, and said clamping members being secured on said annulus.

2. In a street s gn assembly, the combination'of a concretelamp post, with a metal annulus carried thereby for supporting a .the different types of arms provided, the sign frames may be located substantially globe, a globe carried by said annulus, a supporting unit comprising clamping members clamped on saidannulus and having radially extending arms, and a sign unit comprising a plurality of frames with street signs, means for pivotally securingtogetherthe lower and adjacent corners of said frames, and horizontal arms carried by said radial arms, and having flanges engaging the sides of said radial arms, said horizontal arms having means for adjustably supporting depending sign frames from their upper parts. a

3. 'A street sign, comprising a concrete post having a metal annulus fixedly secured to said post to provide a support for a street lamp, an illumination globe carried by said annulus, a plurality of metal clamping members having curved surfaces for engaging said annulus, and adjustable threaded members for securing 'sald clamping members on said annulus, said clamping members havingradially extending arms, metal sign frames having translucent signs in said frames for illumination by said globe, meansfor securing the lower corners of said frames together, end to end toform a sign assembly, and a radial arm at each ofthe corners of said assembly for supporting said sign assembly below said annulus, each of said'latter radial arms being secured to one of the arms of said clamping members. l

4. A street sign, comprising a concrete post having a metal annulus fixedly secured to said post to provide a support for a street lamp, a globe carried by said annulus, a plurality of metal clamping members, each hav ing a curved surface for engaging said an-' nulus, and a radially extending arm for supporting a sign assembly, adjustable threaded members for securing said clamping members on said annulus, a plurality of metal sign frames each having a sign in said frame fo'rillumination by said globe, means for securing the lower corners of said frames to gether, end to end, to form a sign assembly, 7 a sign supporting arm for each corner of said sign assembly, said sign supporting arms having downwardly extending flanges for engaging on both sides of said radial arms,- and having a pair of arms extending at right angles to each other atthe outer end of said sign supporting arms, said sign frames having their upper corners secured to said latter right angle arms, and said sign framesdepending from said arms below said globe tolbe illumined by downwardly and laterally directed rays of light without obscuring said globe. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of-October, 1929. HARRY'H. REYNOLDS.

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