US1947549A

US1947549A - Display device

Info

Publication number: US1947549A
Application number: US671075A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L Fuchs
Original assignee: WILLIAM L FUCHS
Current assignee: WILLIAM L FUCHS
Priority date: 1933-05-15
Filing date: 1933-05-15
Publication date: 1934-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1951-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1934. E, L FUCHS 1,947,549

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May l5, 1933 INVENTOR.

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, o ,v msnapav'rcz um L. Fuel, se. mais, M.,'nnnfr ne-muuwimamnrfnmsemm. Application 15, im. No. 1.015. saam. (cmi-135i e My invention relates to improvements in display devices and methods of forming thesame,

' and more particularly to an improvedadvertising sign having characters or legends adapted to reect lightwhen rays from an external source are directed thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for forming a display on a base of flexible material, such as fabric, which method is simple, economical, and results in a highly effective display for advertising or kindred purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fabric mounted display device or sign of the type noted above, which is unusually durable and especially well adapted to withstand the deleterious effects of vibration, dirt, and moisture.

These and other objects and advantages will more clearly appear from the following description and accompanying drawing, illustrating several presently preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a fabric backing member having a selected area thereof coated with a layer of thermoplastic cement; Fig. 2 illustrates the fabric backing or base member of Fig. 1, with the central portion of the cement-coated area covered with a layer of light-reflecting material, and such covered portion embossed to -provide an irregular lightreflecting surface; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention in nished form; Fig. 4 is a sectional'view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a sectional viewv taken through a display device of modied construction.

Referring, now, by characters of reference to the drawing, reference numeral 10 indicates a sheet of fabric, fabrikoid, or other sheet material which is to receive the display means constituting my invention, and which forms a base or mounting back for such means. In carrying out my invention a selected, predetermined area of the base 10 is coated with a thermoplastic, waterproof stiffening cement or glue 1l, which serves. as will hereinafter appear, to render the coated area of the fabric sumciently stiff to retain and preserve certain impressions formed thereon. The cement 1l also serves to secure a legend bearing display panel 12, hereinafter described, to the fabric base.

A light reflecting surface is formed on the coated area, except the marginal portions thereof, by covering such area with a layer of metal foil 13, or which Vmay be produced by painting or spraying the desired areav with metallizedl lacquer, vin which instance-a suitable stencil may be employed to protect the fabric and marginal 'portions of the coated area not intended to be 00 covered. The coated portion of the fabric is lnext introduced between suitable die parts, not

shown, where heat and pressure are simultaneously applied, to form regularly distributed, nodular impressions 14 and at the same time to cause the thermoplastic cement to penetrate the fibres of the backing material l0 land the light reflecting material to adhere more firmly to the fabric.

Fig. 2 illustrates the backing member 10 as it appears subsequently to the aforementioned die forming operation. Thenodular, light reflecting area, is bordered by a strip 15 of the adhesive material above referred to, which serves marginally to secure the display panel l2 to the backing l0, and to form a moistureand dust-proof junction therebetween. l y

The display panel 12 is produced by stamping or cutting a sheet of flexible, vtranslucent material, preferably of colored celluloid, to the desired shape, and producing the desired legend or characters thereon by stenciling with opaque paint. The color of the opaque portions of the display panel (indicated at 16, Figs. 3 and 4) is preferably such as contrasts markedly with the color of the material constituting the panel. For example, if the display panel is formed of ruby, or amber celluloid, the legend, design or characters may be produced in black paint.

The panel 12 is positioned over the backing member 10 in registration with the cement coated area and the assemblage placed between suitable die-blocks. Heat and pressure are applied to the margins of the display panel and backing member 10 causing such members to become bonded together through the agency of the thermoplastic cement bordering the light reflecting area. In the aforementioned die-pressing operation the margins of the centralV display area of panel l2 are preferably struck inwardly as indicated at 17 to provide an oiset border or frame which enhances the appearance of the display. If the display panel is formed by a stamping operation, offsetting of the marginal or framing portions of the panel may be accomplished in such operation. y

If desired, the display panel may be attached to the mounting back, and nodular impressions formed in both members in a single operation, producing a display illustrated in the sectional view of Fig. 5. In carrying out this method, a 110 layer of thermoplastic cement is applied to the backing member as above described. 'I'he layer of light reflecting material may be applied over the cement surface or to the inner surface of the display panel. With the display panel kpositioned in registering relation over the coated surface of the mounting back, the assemblage is introduced between embossing dies, which are operated to form the nodules or protuberances 14 in the assembled structure and at the same time to fasten the display panel to the backing.

Obviously, numerous variations of the method described may be resorted to without departing from the invention, the essential characteristics of which are set forth in the following claims.

' I claim:

l. The herein described method of manufacturing signs, comprising covering a definite, predetermined area of a piece of fabric, constituting a backing for the sign, with a thermoplastic adhesive and stiffening material, in coating all except the margins of said impregnated area with light reflecting material, in covering the entire impregnated area with a masking plate having translucent characters, and in embossing the assembly and simultaneously causing the masking l1,947,549 l L plate to adhere to the fabric backing bythe application of heat and pressure in suitable dies.

2. 'Ihe herein described method of forming a display ona fabric base, which consists in coating a selected area of the base with thermoplastic cement, spraying the coated area with metallized lacquer to produce a light reflecting surface thereon, embossing the coated area, positioning a legend bearing' display panel over the coated area, and applying heat and pressure to the marginal portions of the display panel to secure it to the fabric base through the agency of the thermoplastic cement.

3. The herein described method of manufacturing signs which consists in impregnating a definite predetermined area` of a piece of fabric with a thermoplastic stifening material, in coating all except the margins of said impregnated area with light reflecting material, in embossing said coated area by means of pressure, in suitable embossing dies, in covering said embossed area with a masking plate, and causing said masking plate to adhere to the uncoated marginal portions of said impregnated area by application of heat and pressure.

EDWARD L. FUCHS.