US2072439A - Luminous indicator - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1937., c. M. ANDRES 2,072,439

LUMINOUS INDICATR Filed April- 11,` 1936 coLoR'Eo comme 'WHITE coATlNG (2me, W M INVENTOR BY ATTQRNEY' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE LUMINOUS INDICATOR charles Michael Andres, Yonkers, N. Y., assigner to Otis Elevator Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application April 1l, 1936, Serial No. 73,885

. 2 Claims.

desirable that any character or symbol be legible Y only when the indicator for illuminated.

One feature of the invention is the provision of a light transmitting material which presents a selected color eiect when backed by an active source of light, and a different color effect when said source is not lighted.

which it is used is A second feature is the provision of a light transmitting material which may be made to produce any one of a variety of different color effects.

A third feature is the provision of a light transmitting material which clearly displays characters or symbols when backed by an active source of illumination but not otherwise.

A fourth feature of the invention lies in the provision of a light transmitting material which is cheap to manufacture.

-Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the specification and appended claims.

The invention will be described by way of illustration as applied to a hall lantern for n elevator.

In the drawing: l

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of an elevator hall lantern having glass enclosures embodying thev invention;

40 Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of Figure 1,

with parts in section;

Figure 3 is an enlargedY end view of one of the enclosures; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, a hall lantern I0 is shown as provided with a housing i I having upper and lower compartments I2 and I4. Housing II comprises a base I5 having ring portions I6 extending outwardly therefrom. Each compartment is provided with a lamp Il. The lamps project into the compartments through apertures I8 formed in base I5. The lamps are mounted 3 on a bracket 20 secured to the rear surface of the base. A bell 2|, preferably of the single stroke type for rendering an audible signal, may also Vbe mounted on the bracket. When the lantern is mounted in the elevator corridor the bracket and parts thereon are concealed within the corridor wall.

Each compartment I2 and I4 is provided with a cylindrical enclosure 22 having an opening 23, as illustrated in Figure 3. Enclosure 22 is preferably made of transparent or translucent glass although other materials may be utilized. The enclosures are assembled inside the ring portions I6 of the housing with the openings 23 thereof positioned adjacent base I5. Removable cover plates 24 are provided at the top and at the bottom of the housing so that the enclosures may be inserted therein. An arrow 25 is formed on each of the enclosures. The enclosures are as sembled in the housing with the arrow of ther upper enclosure pointing in an upward direction and with the arrow of the lower enclosure pointing in a downward direction. When the lantern is positioned in the elevator corridor the enclosures are visible from all directions in .the corridor.

It is preferred that the enclosures 22 appear white in color when the lantern is not lighted, with the enclosure for the upper compartment displaying a green color when the upper com- I partment lamp is lighted and the enclosure for the lower compartment displaying a red color when the lamp for that compartmentis lighted. Such an arrangement will be described. Referring to Figure 4, which is a fragmental View in cross section of a portion of the enclosure for the upper compartment, the inner surface 25 may be roughened by sand blasting or any other suitable method. A depression the shape of an arrow 25 is yformed in surface 26. A coat 30 of' white e'namel isapplied to surface 26, several heavy coats 28` of white enamel being applied to the area of arrow 25 to render the arrow opaque. A coat 3| of green enamel is then applied over the coat of White enamel for the enclosure for the upper compartment. Red enamel is applied for the coat 3l for the enclosure for the lower compartment instead of green enamel. The enamels used preferably are of a pyroxylin lacquer base colored with pigments and are sprayed on. Each coat of enamel is baked for thirty minutes at Fahrenheit between applications. The coat 3|! of white enamel is of an applied density .so that illumination is not materially reduced when the lantern is lighted and so that the coat 3l of green or red enamel is not noticeably apparent ciof through the glass when the lantern is not i1- luminated.

Assuming the lantern to be'viewed from the outside, when lamp I1 for upper compartment i2 is illuminated the upper enclosure 22 appears green with; its arrow 24 appearing distinctly darker and pointing in an upward direction. The lower enclosure 22 when illuminated by its respective lamp l1 appears red with its arrow 24 appearing distinctly darker and pointing in a downward direction. The distribution of light is even over the entire surfaces of the enclosures when the lantern is illuminated. In the absence of light in both the upper and lower compartments, the upper and lower enclosures present a milk white appearance with their respective arrows barely discernible.

The invention is applicable to various types of indicators, including those in which no character or symbol is displayed. The light transmitting medium may be of any shape which conforms to the design of the indicator. Other color combinations than those specifically described may be employed.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and. many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof,

it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense. y

What is claimed is:-

1. In a luminous indicator, a light transmit ting member having a covering of white trans lucent paint appliedto its inner surface, a portion of said covering being thicker than the Are maini'ng portion to render it opaque, one oi' said portions being in the form of a selected symbol, a covering of translucent paint of a diierent color applied to the rst named covering, said paints being of a density such that when said indicator is not illuminated, said member appears white Without displaying-said symbol, and when said indicator is illuminated, one of said por tions appears a different color displaying smd symbol.

2. In a luminous indicator, a light transmitting member having a covering of white translucent paint applied to its inner surface, a portion of said covering in the form of a selected symbol being thicker than the remainder to render it opaque, a covering of translucent paint of a different color applied to the rst named covu ering, said paints being of a density such that when said indicator is not illuminated, said member appears White without displaying said symbol, and when said indicator is illuminated, said, member appears a diierent color and said symbol is displayed.

CHARLES MICHAEL ANDRES.

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