US1909632A

US1909632A - Luminous tube connection device

Info

Publication number: US1909632A
Application number: US427226A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willis O Prouty
Original assignee: METLOX CORP Ltd
Current assignee: METLOX Corp Ltd
Priority date: 1930-02-10
Filing date: 1930-02-10
Publication date: 1933-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1950-05-16

Description

May 16, 1933. w. o. PROUTY LUMINOUS TUBE CONNECTION DEVICE Filed Feb. 10

l UI mr IN VENTOR V/WAS O. Fra /'y ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIS O. PROUTY, OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO METLOX COBPO.- 4

RATION, LTD., OF MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA, A CORPOBATION OI' CALI- FORNIA.

LUMINOUS TUBE CONNECTION DEVICE Application filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427326.

This invention relates to a device for leading electrical energy into a luminous tube, such as are now in common use for signs and advertising purposes. These tubes usually comprise a filling of a noble monatomc gas at low pressures, arranged to be rendered luminous by the passage of an electrc current through the gas.

Often such tubes are supported on the exterior of a box structure, which forms a support for the tubes. Since the potential dfferences used to energize the tubes are of the order of thousands of volts, it is necessary that the wires leading to the tube be very heavily insulated. Such insulated wires are stifi and cannot be bent at sharp angles.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a connector in which the wres can be led to the tube straight, thereby reducmg the space required for housing the wrng, and making the completed sign more compact. The insulation clearances are also mproved.

. My invention possesses -many other advantages, and has other objects wh ch may be made more easily apparent from a consderation of one embodiment ofi 'ny invention. For this purpose I have shown a form n the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specificatior. I shall now proceed to describe this/'form in detail, wh ch illustrates the general principles of my 1nvention; but it is to be understood that ths detailed description is not to be taken 111 a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

F igure 1 is a sectional view of a porton of a sign box structure showing my device in use Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the connector;

can be led into the tube. This cap is resiliently held in a spring socket of suitable design, which is located in the bottom of the tubular portion 16. In the present instance, this spring socket is formed by a pair of resilient metal strips`20, 21 of U-shapes. The legs of the U are reversely bent to form the opposed spring fingers 23 engagingthe cap 19. The

strips

20, 21 are held together at their ends as by a screw 24 which also serves as a terminal post.

A cable or wire 25, heavily insulated, extends to the screw 24 to lead current thereto. A right angle' extension 26 leading from the tube 16 and integrally formed therewith, serves to protect and insulate the current carrying parts from the box 11. The spring socket 20-21 need not be fastened to the device 15, since the wire 25, in conjunction with the tube 12, keeps it in place.

leakage Currents.

A resilient washer 27 can be used to cover the tube 16 and to make it weatherproof.

I'QIEII! 1. In a device for leading current to a luminous tube, a tubular body made from insulation material, a spring socket resting on the bottom of the body and in position to be engaged by the end of a luminous tube, said socket having a terminal post, said socket being unattached to the body, and a radialtube extension extending from the body near the bottom thereof, for shielding a connecting Wire to the post, said extension being long enough to provide a long creeping surface for leakage Currents.

2. In a device for leading current to a luminous tube, a tubular body made from insulation material; a spring socket resting on the bottom of the body and in position to be engaged by the end of a luminous tube, said socket having a terminal post, and an integrally formed right-angled extension from the tubular body for shielding a connecting vvire to the post, said wi'e being unrestrained by said extension for transverse movement therein.

3. In combination, a tubular body made from insulation material, said body adapted to be Secured to the top of a box structure so that the bottom of the former is spaced from the bottom of the latter, a spring socket resting on the bottom of the body and in a position to be engaged by the end of a luminous tube, said socket having a, terminal ost, said socket being unattached to the beti and a radial tube extension extending from the body near the bottom thereof for shielding a connecting Wire to the post, said extension loosely surrounding the connecting Wire and being long enough to provide a long creeping surface for leaking Currents.

In testimony Whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand.

WILLIS O. PROUTY.