US1905544A

US1905544A - Ornamental display device

Info

Publication number: US1905544A
Application number: US377953A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles T Wittstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-07-13
Filing date: 1929-07-13
Publication date: 1933-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1950-04-25

Description

April 25, 1933. C. T, W|TTSTE|N 1,905,544

ORNAMENTAL DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed July 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l l ATTORNEYS April 25, (3l T. W|TTSTE|N ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 13, 1929 n 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ATTORNEYS April 25, 1933 c. T. wlTTsTElN 1,905,544

ORNAMENTAL DI S PLAY DEVI C Filed July 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 ya .nnmull www l:

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Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED Ajsria'ras CHARLES fr. WITTSTEINQ oFiNEWARK, NEW JERSEY oRNAMEN'rAL nrsrLArn DEVICE Application ined July is, 192e.` sei-iai nastiest.

This invention relates in general to the association of light-ing effects with sound producing mechanism, for example a radio loud speaker. The pleasing aesthetic and psychological effects produced by correlation of color and music are already recognized, and one object vof my invention is to provide Va novel and improved apparatus for combining or correlating sound and color in a simple, inexpensive andefl'ective manner.

`Another` object is to provide such apparatus including a novel and improved construction aiid combination of a light reflecting or light transmitting screen and means for projecting thereon colored lights, Whereby infinitely varying lighting effects can be obtained.'- y

Other-objects are to provide apparatusof the character described whereby the lighting or color effects can bechanged at the will of the operator instantly and with ease and without in any manner disturbing the sound reproduction; to providezsuch apparatus embodying a hollowspherical segment `which has its interior surface polished, in; combination 'with' means for projecting light vupon said polished surface;and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought 3D- out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views, A y

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical'sectional view taken on the line 1--1y of .Figure 2 through an illuminated sound reproducing apparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation ot the apparatus with portions broken Vaway on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View ofthe apparatusA with portions broken away on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4c is a horizontal sectional vien7 on the line a of Figure 1. 1

Figure 5 is a detached plan view of the discy color screen. n

Figure 6 isa view similar to Figure l showing a modified form of the invention.

`A sounding 'discharging tube 4 below the top wall l of 'the casing and substantially in theA outlet Figure 7 is a vie-w Isimilarl to Figure 2 showing thel .form illustrated in Figure 6. K f 1 Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional viewithrough'the color screenl on y the line 8 8 of Figure 7.' f 55 F'gure 9 isianr end elevation of the screen shownV in. Figures 6 and 7. Figure l0 is a detachedy perspective -vienT of the color screen.V f

Figure l1V is a transverse verticalsectional '6.0

color Y view through another form of the invention, vand,

Figure 12 isla front elevation thereof.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l'to 5 inclusive, the reference character A designates a casing'` having a flat top wall ll in which is formedan opening 2 which consti- Y tutesthe outlet for a sound lproducing mechanism which is-shown as comprising a magnetic radioyloud speaker unit 3 connectedy by a sound conductingjtube 4 to the outlet opening l2. I

'board 5 man, 'form 5f-sun stantially a quarter segment of a hollow sphere ismounted uponthe top Wall-l'above Ithe opening 2 so as to project the'sound from said opening upwardly and outwardlyaway from saidopening. yThe sounding lboard 5 in eifect forms a horn-like recess with the top wall lofthe casing, and is substantially an extension of 'the sound discharging tubel 4 of the sound-producing mechanism. Preferablythe concave inner surface 6 of the sounding board'is 'highly-polished', al- 85 though this is not absolutely essentialto the invention.

A source of light, such yas `anincandescent electric lamp 7, is arranged Within the sound opening `2. A color screen which is in the .form of va flat'disc 8 is journaled upon the underside of the top Wall 1 on asuitable shaft 9 with a portion extending into the opening 2 between thelight source4 7j and the inner side 6 of the sounding board 5.- .This discmay'be of any suitable construction, but preferably comprises a pluraltyof segments 10 of dierent shapes and sizes and of different colors, and preferably the segments are formed of transparent or other light passing material, such as glass. A knob 11 is connected to the shaft 9 at the upper side of the top Wall 1 for rotating the disc.

In operation of the apparatus, the loud speaker unit 3 is. connected to a radio receiving rset in the usual manner and sound Waves are discharged through the tube 4 and outlet opening 2 intothe stage-likev recess produced by the sounding .board 5 onthe .top Wall 1. The sounding-board then projects the sound upwardly and forvvardly.-y The` lamp 7 is connected to any suitable sourceof electricity and is lighted during operation of the apparatus, when desired, and ycontrolled by a suitable switch: (not shown). The rays oflight pass through the transparencies of the disc' 8 and become colored according to the colors of the segments 10, and lthecolored light is rprojected upon-the polished inner surface 61of the soundingboard- Remarkable and highly aesthetic lighting'- elfects resembling oating clouds are thus produced; and by rotating the disc 8 the color-eifects may be changed, that is, when the disc is rotated, diiferent colored segments are arrangedin thel paths of the light rays from the lamp 7. Obviously the color projected upon the inner surface 6 of the sounding-board may be changed at will to suit the operator and they particular music or the like being reproduced by the sound producing mechanism. VViththe inner surface 6 highly polished, slight changes in position of the observer or the `disc 8 yvill cause remarkable changes in color effects, and it has been found that With only tWo or vthree ofthe transparencies 10 of diiferent color arranged over thelamp 7 an innite numberl :of color tones on the inner surface of the sounding board will be produced. The conformation of the colorspots or bands can of course be changed by'varying theshapes of ,the segments l0 and in other ways Which will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Itwill be observed that the light source is concealed outside the boundaries of the concave surface 6, andthatthe light raysare projected uponsaid surfacefrom one edge ,thereof andina direction approximately corresponding to the curved plane of the surface; this results in a glarelc'ss. and soft blending of the colored light. f u

rIhe sounding-board 5 in connection with the top Wall 1 of the casing closelysimulates a miniature stage or proscenium, so that the observer is given the suggestion ofk a stage performance which is especially realistic -Where operatiefl or -.dramatic productions are .being reproduced by the sound-producing mechanism. Igalso contemplate decorating ithe inner snrfaceG, and I -may provide a plurality of removable decorationsv which 4can be interchanged asI desiredgglor example, I may provide a channel guide-Way 12 at the bottoni of the sounding board 5 adjacent the top Wall l and utilize a plurality of differently decorated flexible strips 13 which can be slipped endwise into the guide 12 and held thereby in close conformity With the inner surface 6. The decorations may of course be of any type, for example figures, or outdoor scenery, or a combination thereof.

In Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, I show a modi- ;fed form .of my invention which is in general the same as that hereinbeforel described; the essential diffe-rence is the light producing mechanism. In this form of the invention, the color screen 14 iss'ubstantially cylindrical and composed of a plurality ofstrips 15 of transparent or light-passing material such Las glass which arelofdiiferent'colors. These strips are clamped between end pieces 16 which have trunnions 17 for rotatably mounting the screen in brackets 18 depending from the underside of the top Wall 1 of the casing. One of these trunnions k,may be in the form ofY a tube 19 lat the inner endof which is mounted an electric lamp'20, the wires 21 vfor supplyingtelectricity to the lamp .passing throughthe tube 19. `For rotating `the screen from the exterior of the casing I mayvprovide a polygonal socket 22 in one of the trunnions with which is adapted to cooperate the polygonal end 23 of a rod`2t which passes through one end of the Wall of the casing.

. As shown, a segmental portion of the cylindrical screenpasses through an opening 25 in thesound-discharging tube 4; beneath the routlet opening 2, and .With the lamp 2O inside .the screen, obviously the rays of-light pass upwardlyY through the transparencies 15 and the opening 2.against the inner surfaceA 6 of the sounding-board 5,. The color eilectsthus produced may be instantly changed, at the kWill of theoperator, by rotation of the cylindrical screen. e e t In Figures l1 and 12 is shown another `form of the invention which contemplates the combination'of a dynamic type of radio loud speaker and a radio receiving set in the same kcasing with. the sounding board land vlight producing mechanism. 'As shown, the casing 26'has a top Wall`27 'like the Wall 1 Which is provided-With an opening 28. Beneath the openingjis arrangedl a'kn'own typefof dynamic Vloudspeaker 29v with the'diaphra ;ml 30 in substantially horizontal position and in substantially axial alinement with the opening 28. A ho'rnelike tube 31 serves to conduct soundfromv the loud speaker unit through the opening 28. Radio receiving apparatus 32 may be arranged at the front of the casing, with the control` dials and knobs 320 projecting from the top Wall 27.

Above the opening 28 is arranged ahollow casing extension v33 in which -is mounted a sounding board 34:;substantially identical in segmental spherically concave surface, a

construction with the sounding board 5. This sounding board is pivotally mounted at 36 to the ends of the extension 33 so as to swing into the extension in surrounding relation to the opening 38 as shown by solid lines in Figure 11, or to swing out of the extension 33 to close the casing and the extension 33, and enclose the dials and knobs 320, as shown by dotted lines. This type of casina is yshown in my Patent No. 1,585,454, dated Iay Within the opening 28 and journaled upon a suitable bracket 37 is a color screen disc 38 which may be identical with the disc 8 hereinbefore described. The disc is rotatable by a knob 39. Beneath the disc is arranged an electric. lamp or other light source 40 with which cooperates a reflector 41 for directing rays of light upwardly through the disc 38 against the inner surface of the soundingboard 34.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially the same as that Vhereinbefore described, the radio receiving apparatus 32 actuating the loud speaker 29 to reproduce sound which is projected through the opening 28 and sounding-board 34 which is illuminated.

W'hile I have shown an described a certain relation between the loud speaker 29, the Vlamp Y 40, disc 38 and sounding-board 34, I do not desire to be limited to this specific arrangement which is intended primarily as illustrative of the principles of my invention.

' Interchangeable decoration sheets 42 may be utilized in connection with the soundingboard 34 just as described in the construction shown in Figure 1.

While I have shown the invention em-` bodied in certain details of construction, it should be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to utilize the invention in connection with other sound-producing or sound reproducing apparatus, and that the details of construction may be modified and changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ornamental display device, comprising an opaque member having an exposed segmental spherically concave surface, and means concealed outside the boundaries of said surface of said member adjacent one edge thereof to project light rays of different colors simultaneously upon said surface, from said edge thereof, whereby said colors are blended on the surface to produce an ornamental eflect by reiiection of the light rays from one portion of said surface to other portions thereof.

2. An ornamental display device, comprising an opaque member having an exposed thereof. CHARLES T. WITTSTEIN.