US2054289A - Sign - Google Patents

Description

sept. 15, 1936. o. A. JACKSON' SIGN Filed April 20, 1935 1NVENTOR (LAacKson ATTKORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES rPATENT OFFICE SIGN Orville A. Jackson, Des. Moines, Iowa Application April zo, 1935, 'serial No. 11,481 -2 claims. (ci. 4ta-13s) The principal object of my'invention is to provide an attractive sign that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sign for both day and night use -that has no operating expense. i

A stili further object of my invention is to provide a sign that is capable of successfully reecting light rays without blinding the observer. A still further object of this invention is to provide a sign of long life and one that is not damaged or affected by weather.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sign of the reflector type that diffuses and directs the reiiected light rays at variousangles.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front view of my sign ready for use.

- Fig. 2 is an enlarged front View of a portion of the glass used in the manufacture of my sign.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of my sign taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and more iully illustrates its construction.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged back view of a portion of my sign showing the shallow depressions in the back surface oi the glass used in making the sign.

There are many attractive signs for both night and day use now being manufactured. However, most ci these signs depend on a direct source oi electric current for their illumination at night l and are therefore costly and complicated in manufacture and installation and have high operation and maintenance costs. To eliminate such costs some sign manufacturers. have turned to the refleeting type of sign, where light rays from such as automotive vehicle headlamps, etc., are picked up and redirected, thereby making the sign reaci-A able at night. The chief objections to rnost or' the signs of this character, however, are that-they are easily broken, tend to blind the observer, and are usually observable only from certain denite angles from the sign. I have overcome such ob.` jections as will hereinafter be appreciated.

Referring to the drawing, I have used the numeral i0 to designate the glass upon the'back of which the indicia or character strokes of the sign are imposed.- The design, type, composition, and

construction of this glass..sheeting ill is highly important. This glassv i0 is of thecrystal clear variety and has integrally formed on its face or front a plurality of closely arranged comparatively small lenses I i. These lenses Il are each of a convex arcular or semi-spherical formationjnas shown in Fig. 3, and glass of this type is usually known in the trade as' hammered glass. i

The numeral I2 designates a plurality of comparatively shallow depressions in theV back surface of theglass sheeting I 0. These depressions veach cover a comparatively large area as shown in Fig. 4, and are therefore in` diameter much greater than the diameter of each of the lenses Il. The numeral it designates metallic wire meshgreinforcing imbedded throughout the area of the glass sheeting Iii. This reinforcing wire makes the glass sheeting of shatter-proof construction and adds greatly tothe artistic appearance of the finished sign.

In manufacturing the sign the indicia or chafracter strokes are painted or otherwise imposed on the back surface of the glass ,i. Obviously, any color may be used,lbut silver mirror paint is highly recommended due to its reecting prop' erties. In some instances, two or more colors will be used informing each character. In Fig. i, I show two colors, for each character, i. e.. a light or silver color for the center of each character and outlined with av darker color. I have used the numeral it to designate these character strokes or indicia painted or otherwise imposed on the glass. After the characters have been placed on the glass the entire back oi the glass andbacks oi' the characters it are covered with a. suitable protective paint i5. For most satis-s irregular back surface of the glass the characters and protective paint coating will also have their iace surfaces irregular and the bright rays wilt therefore be reected'at various angles through the glass it. This not only makes the sign read able at almost any angie in iront of the sign, but

gives the characters and background a very desir-f able and attractive wavy appearance.

The small closely spaced apart lenses Ii successfully diuse the. light rays passing through' the glass iii, thereby eliminating what would otherwise be a blinding eiect on the observer. As the lenses are each substantially semi-circular in cross-section the diffusing of the light rays will be leven and uniform. Even in the daytime thex sign pick up the necessary light vforreecting purposes.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that -I have provided a very desirable inexpensive night and day sign. n

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement oi' my improved sign and method of making same without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my. intention to cover by my claims any modified vformsof structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonablyincluded within their scope.

I claim: 1. In a sign,.a sheet oi' glass material having a plurality of shallow depressionsA in one of -its sides and a plurality of convex lenses on its other side; each of said shallow depressions having an area substantially greater than thearea of any one of said lenses, andindicia on theside of said sheet of. glass having said shallow depressions;`

said indicia having light ray teristics.

2. In a sign, a Islieetpof glass material having a plurality of shallow de ressions vin one of its sides and a plurality of convex lenses on its other side; each of said-shallow depressions having an area reflecting characsubstantially greater than the area of any one of f said lenses, metallic reinforcing strand elements i embedded in said sheet of glass material, and

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