US1803598A - Changeable sign - Google Patents

Description

y 1931- R M. CRAIG 1,803,598

CHANGEABLE S IGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 3 R. M. CRAIG 1,803,598

CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J fa. Z

y 1931- R. M. CRAIG 1,803,598

' CHANGEABLE SIGN Filed March 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 avmxwam 1?.M C'rad.

/, Patented May 5,1931

RICHARD M. CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS CHANGEAIBLE SIGN a lication filed March 1,

This invention has for its object the provision of a movable sign of novel construction and which in operation will produce novel and striking effects whereby the attention of passers-by will be attracted. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display apparatus embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, g

I Fig. 4 is an end elevation,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of one form of display member,

6 is a diagram of the several display elements, and v Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrative of the operation. I f

In the particular structure illustrated in the drawings, there is employed a box or hollow base. 1 in which is mounted a motor 2 and a distributer 3, the motor being controlled from a distant switch in any convenient manner which will be readily understood by those skilled in the electrical art, the sign being intended more particularly for display upon the front of a building and at a height where it will be out of the reach of mischievously inclined individuals. Erected upon the top of the box 1 are standards 4 located adjacent the ends of the box and having their upper ends formed into or rigidly supporting tubes 5 which extend inwardly and to and between the inner ends of which is secured a frame 6 of insulation and which preferably includes a central transparent pane 7. Mounted upon the tubes 5 to rotate about the same is a drum 8 which is preferably of polygonal cross section, the drawings showing a drum having a hexagonal cross sectional contour, although 1930. Serial No. 482,448.

the drum may be square, triangular or other symmetrical form. The drum is of a skeleton formation including end disks 9 of insulating material, one side plate 10 of opaque material secured upon and extending between said disks, and grooved plates or re-entrant flanges 11 extending longitudinally of the drum at the-corners of the same and receiving slides 12, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. These slides 12 may be stencil plates having any desired announcements cut therein or they a may be plates or strips of translucent material having the announcements painted or otherwise displayed thereon in contrasting. characters or colors and said stencil plates are light transmitting in character. In Fig.

5, I have illustrated a display element consisting of a sheet of material 13 provided with a pigment color illustrated in the drawings as orange. The sheet 13 may be made of cel luloid, gelatine or other suitable material having sufficient durability and capable of permitting the passage of light, and upon this sheet 13 is secured an outer sheet 14 upon which are clear letters 15 or words so that,

when .light is permitted to pass through the iheet, the letters or words will be wholly legi- One end disk 9 is extendedso as to form a pulley and a belt 16 is trained aboutthe pulley and about a pulley 17 on the motor shaft so that the drum may be rotated. The distributer 3 is also driven from the motor 2 through speed reducing gears, indicated conventionally at 18, and connected through bev- 8O eled pinions 19 with the shaft of the distri buter drum.

Disposed at opposite sides of the transparent plate 7 and supported thereby are luminescent tubes 20 and 21 which are given the form of parallel straight lines connected by alternatel opposed bends whereby to constitute a gri and the tubes are given different, spectral colors, one being red and the other blue in the selected structure. Elee- 9 tric conductors 22 lead to' the bearing tube 5 at the upper end of the standard 4 and then pass through said tube to be connected to the terminals of the respective grids, as will be understood. These conductors, of course, are not Connected directly with the input cables but extend from the secondary sides of transformers, indicated conventionally at 23 in Fig. 7. Disposed at the back of the frame 6 and the grids are mirrors 24 which are arranged to reflect the light from the rear grid so that it will be caused to pass through the front 'of the drum and thereby add to the unique efiects obtained from the use of theapparatus. The grids and 21 are luminescent gas-filled tubes of the type popularlycalled neon tubes. They are of clear glass and they are filled with gases such that, when illuminated, one tube will emit a red light and the other a blue light. It is the usual practice in neon tube work to employ a tube of yellow or uranium glass with the same filler which makes a blue light, the blue light combining with the yellow of the glass to make a green light. Uranium glass isexceedingly difiicultto handle and does not satisfactorilywithstand weather changes. I avoid all the difliculties attendant upon the use of such glass by employing an orange or yellow celluloid or gelatine film on the stencil plate and sending light from the blue id therethrough, thereby obtaining a green fia ickground for the display. In like manner, various colors may be displayed and. each stencil or announcement may be shown with a. distinctive background, a steel blue film lighted from the red grid, for instance, showing white.

Mounted upon the opaque side 10 of the drum is a luminescent tube or a pair of tubes 25 which are fashioned to form any desired outline, the drawings showing a series of bends which are extended in opposite directions, parts of the tubes being darkened or rendered opaque, as indicated at 26, so that when the drum is rotated at a. speed higher than the speed of vision the illuminated tube will produce the effect of a rotating corkscrew or auger. The terminals of the tube 26 are connected with conductor rings 27 set in the outer face of an end disk 9 and brushes or contact fingers 30 are arrangedto bear upon said rings so that the tube may be illuminated, Wires 31 connecting said brushes or contact fin ers with a transformer 32. as ndicated in ig. 7, and a condenser 33 being inserted across said wires.

Secured upon the standards 4 near the upper ends thereof are arms 34 projecting forwardly beyond the drum and supported by the ends of these arms is a light transmitting luminescent tube or announcement member 35 which is fashioned into a word identifying the upon which or the business in connection with which the apparatus is displayed. The terminals of this tube 35 are connected by wires 36 with a transformer 37. as shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that the tube 35 is disposed approximately in the horizontal plane of the axisof the drum and alined with the grids 20 and 21 so that when the tube is not 'illuminated and the grids are illuminated the light from the grids will passthrough the front -of the drum and through the tube 35 without interference or distortion, the tube 35 being of clear glass and forming a word in script without any opaque spaces. The color of the tube when illuminated is determined by the gas with which it is filled. To prevent vertical divergenc'e of the rays from the mirrors 24, guard plates 38 may be secured to the for- 'ward edges of the mirrors and extend forwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3.

The illumination of the tubes is eflected through primary and secondary circuits, all of the electrical connections so far described being in the secondary circuits. The primary circuits include input lines 39 and 40, the line 39 being connected to each of the transformers 23, 32 and 37, as shown in Fig. 7, while the line 40 extends to a brush 41 which is arranged to cooperate with the drum of the distributer 3. This drum is a cylinder of insulation having continuous conductor rings 42 set in its periphery at one end and having contact blocks 43 set in the remaining por-' tion of its circumferential surface at various intervals and at various locations to control the illumination of the several tubes. Brushes 44 bear upon the rings 42 and these brushes are connected by conductors 45 with the respective transformers, a variable resistance 46 being inserted in the conductor 45 leading to the transformer 32, as shown in Fig. 7. From the brush 41, a wire 47 leads to a brush 48 which is arranged to make contactwith a conductor ring 49 mounted on the end of the drum opposite the end carrying the contact rings 27. The ring 49 is connected through a wire 50 and branches thereof with the several contact blocks 51 set in the adjacent end of the drum and corresponding in their arrangementto the several tubes which are to be selectively illuminated. The several contacts 43 upon the distributer drum are each electrically connected with one of the rings 42. The brush 41 when a contact 43 of the drum rides under its free end will establish a circuit through the uppermost wire 45 shown in Fig. 7 with the transformer 32 and the pattern tube 25 will, consequently,

be illuminated, the illumination being constant when the circuit is through the brush 41 and the drum. The brush 52 which is next to the brush 41 will be electrically connected through a contact 43 of the drum with the same ring 42 as the brush 41 and the several contacts are so arranged that when a contact 43 is under the free end of the brush 52 one of the contact blocks 51 in the end of the display drum will be in engagement with a brush 53 mounted adjacent the end of the drum and connected through a wire 54 with the brush 52 so that the circuit will then be up through the wire 47 and brush 48, ring 49, wire 50, block 51, brush 53 and wire 54 to the brush 52 and thence to the transformer,

the circuit being closed only momentarily between the points 51 and 53so that the pattern tube will then be illuminated only once during the rotation of the drum. The tube 35 is illuminated intermittently, the periods being controlled by the block 51 next adjacent the block 51 which has just been more particularly referred to in describing the pair will control illumination of the grid 21 and, therefore, either a red or a blue light will be sent out accordingly. The contact blocks 51 cooperating with the several pairs of brushes 55 are set upon the drum in position corresponding to the positions of the respective display plates 12 so that the grids will be illuminated only when one of said plates is in the display or reading position, indicatedin Fig. 1, and the illumination will occur only when the proper display plate is in the reading position. The display apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for use upon theaters and other places of amusements and in order-that its functions may be clearly understood, I have shown upon the several plates 12 the words and figures indicative ofthe particular act or performance which at a given time may be upon the stage and the several circuit closing contacts upon the distributer drum and upon the display drum are so arranged that illumination will occur once in each rotation of the display drum and only at such time as the proper display plate happens to be in the reading position. The pattern tube 25 being fixed upon the drum and rotating therewith, the impressions created by the tube in its ro-' tation will be retained by the eye for a period greater than the period during which the tube is actually seen by the eye and this persistency of vision will cause the impressions of the tube to be superimposed upon each other inasmuch as the drum rotates at a speed greater than the speed of vision and many pleasing designs may be seen as a result of thlS physical characteristic. I have found that if the full strength of the alternating current on the primary side of the transformer be permitted to flow continuously into the tube 25, the lines will be broad and the efi'ect will be a broad background of color but by interposing the condenser 33 in the circuit I am enabled to obtain very sharply defined lines and by selecting tubes of proper forms the design may be varied infinitely. I have also found that if a resistance be interposed in the primary side of the circuit the points in the rotation of the drum at which the tube appears to be illuminated may be varied .and this attribute of the apparatus permits me to vary the effect obtained.

When the stationary tube 35 is illuminated,

the pattern tube 25 is also illuminated and" will produce a background for the announcement, the grids both being dark. By adjusting the resistance 46, the pattern tube 25 may be caused to illuminate with such frequency that the corkscrew may appear with broken threads or rotate at different speeds or even turn backward.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very compactand simple apparatus by the use of which a very effective and attractive display may be made and an advertising medium of great value will be furnished.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a reflector for throwing the light out one side of the drum, thus making the characters visible or legible on one side of the drum only. By omitting the reflector, however, it is obvious that 'the signs or characters may be shown on both sides of the drum simultaneously.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1,. A dis lay apparatus comprising a drum mounted ti rotation about its major axis,

a luminescent tube disposed in front of the drum in a fixed position, display plates mounted upon the drum, a luminescent tube disposed within the drum and fixedly supported, and means controlled by the rotation of the drum for intermittently illuminating the tubes whereby the announcements upon the display plates may be read behind the fixed tube 1n front of the drum,

2. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about its major axis, a luminescent tube forminga readable character supported in fixed position in front of the drum, means within the drum for illuminating announcements thereon, and means controlled by rotation of the drum for intermittently illuminating the said tube and the illuminating means within the drum.

3. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for continuous rotation about its major axis, display plates carried by the drum, a gas-filled luminescent tube within the drum to cast light through the display plates, and means controlled by the rotation of the drum for intermittently illuminating the tube.

4. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for continuous rotation about its major axis, display plates mounted on the sides-of the drum, gas-filled luminescent tubes secured within the drum in fixed position and having contrasting colors, and means controlled by rotation of the drum for illuminatin the tubes.

5.- display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about its major axis, display plates mounted on the drum, a stationary frame Within the drum and including a central transparent portion, luminescent tubes of contrasting colors mounted at the opposite sides of said transparent portion wherebyto project light through the display plates, and means controlled by rotation of the drum for intermittently and selectively illuminatin the tubes.

6. A disp ay apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation about its major axis, display plates on the sides of the drum, a fixed frame within the drum including a transparent portion, luminescent tubes of contrasting colors arranged at the'opposite sides of said transparent portion, mirrors disposed at the rear of said frame, and means controlled by rotation of the drum'to intermittently and selectively illuminate said tubes.

7. A display apparatus comprising a drum mounted for rotation'about its major axis and having a polygonal cross section with one opaque side, display plates removably fitted in the remaining sides of the drum, luminescent tubes supported in fixed position within the drum to project light through the display plates at the front of the drum, a luminescent tube secured upon the outer face of the opaque side of the drum and having a design forming shape, and means controlled bythe rotation of the drum for selectively illuminating the tubes.

8. A display apparatus comprising a rotatable carrier, a luminescent tube mounted on the carrier and shaped to form a pattern, a stationary luminescent tube mounted in front of the carrier and forming an announcement, and means for illuminating the tubesduring rotation of the carrier whereby the pattern tube will produce a background for the announcementtube.

9. A display apparatus comprising a rotatable drum, display plates on the sides of the drum, a luminescent tube within the drum to send light through the display plates, a stationary luminescent tube in front of the drum, and means for intermittently illuminating the tubes, the tube in front of the drum being invisible when the other tube is illuminate 10. A display apparatus comprising a luminescent announcement element, a luminescent design forming element and means for continuously moving one element relative to able member and thou h which the light rays pass, a luminescent esign element interposed adjacent the stencil, means for illuminating the tube, and means for illuminating the design element.

13. A display apparatus comprising relatively fixed and movable members, a luminescent tube mounted on the'stationary member, a stencil carried by the movable member, a luminescent pattern forming tube also carried by the movable-member, means for illuminating the tubes, and means whereby the stencil will display a transmitted'light announcement at one period and the pattern tube a composite transmitted light design at another.

14. A display apparatus comprising relatively stationary and movable members, a luminescent tube carried by thestationary member, interchangeable light transmitting stencil plates removably mounted on the movable member, means for illuminating the'tube, and means for continuously rotating themovable member.

15. A display apparatus comprising a stationary luminescent tube, a member movable around the tube, a light transmitting announcement stencil carried by said movable member, means for illuminating the tube, and a stationary light transmitting announcement member arranged in front of the movable member.

16. A display apparatus comprising a stationary member, a luminescent tube carried by the stationarymember, a stationary light transmitting announcement member arranged in front of theluminescent tube, a movable member, and a light transmitting announcement stencil carried by the movable member and visible through the stationary announcement member.

17. A display apparatus comprising a continuously rotating member, a pattern forming luminescent tube carried by said member, a stationary luminescent tube arranged in juxta-position to the rotating member and fashioned to form announcement characters,

"and means for illuminatin the tubes either simultaneously or indepen ently.

18. A display apparatus comprising a continuously rotatlng member, a-stationary luminescent tube mounted within said member t and having a distinctive spectral color, means I for illuminating .-the tube, and n stencil mounted on the rotating member and "proa. composite color.

vided with a translucent pigment color m whereby when the member is rotated the spectral and pigment colors will blend to produce testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

7 RICHARD M. CRAIG.

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