US2090989A - Portable illuminated sign - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 193 7.

H. R. VAN DEVENTER ET AL 2,090,989

PORTABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed June 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY A g- 24, 1 7- H. R. VAN DEVENTER ET AL 2,090,989 PORTABLE ILLUMINATED SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1935 FzlyzZ.

INVE HFRR Y Rwy/952mm TER ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE & 2,090,989 ron'rnnm muma'run SIGN Harry B. Van Deventer and John J. Shiveiy, New York, N. Y., assignora'by mesne assignments, to Service Devices, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 20, 1935, Serial No. 27,488

Claims. (01. 40-132) This invention relates to illuminated signs, and more particularly to such signs of the portable type which can be readily carried from place to place and used for window displays and the like.

'An, object of the invention is to provide a portable sign of the type described which is entirely self-contained including a suitable source of energy for operating the sign.

Another object is to providea sign of this type in which batteries are used as a source of current supply and wherein the said batteries can be removed and replaced without the necessity of disconnecting wires therefrom.

A further object is to provide a sign of this type in which agaseous tube, such-as a neon tube for example, is used and operated-by alternating or interrupted current obtained from a source and means forming part of the complete sign unit and movable therewith.-

Other objects will be apparent from the fol- 2 lowing specification, in which a preferred type ofsign embodying the invention isdescribed by way of illustration.

The invention consists substantiallyin the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully here- I inafter set forth and as shown by the accompany ing drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a sign embodyi g the invention with the back removed; 7

Figure 2 is a view, partly in cross section, on the line 22, Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the wiring of the sign, Figures 1. and 2. i

In the copending appllcationfierial No. 19,039,

filed April 30, 1935, is described a Sign of the general character of that herein disclosed except the I aforesaid application discloses a power operated sign designed for use with 110 volt alternating current and adapted tobe connected to an ordinary lighting circuit via the cord and plug shown. The present invention distinguishes from the power operated sign aforesaid in that it does not.

require connection to a' power circuit, but is entirely self-contained, the source of energy for operating the sign being enclosed within the easing thereof. This eliminates the plug and cord and all external connections and enables the .sign to be carried about while illuminated, and has many other advantages. 7 It will be understood, however, that-this improved sign employs a gaseous tube as a source of light and in external appearance is similar to the signdescribed in the aforesaid copending application.

The numeral Ill denotes a front casing or frame preferably of insulating material such as bakellte. Within this frame is supported the transparent panel or glass it and in the rear thereof is positioned the grid i2 formed of a piece of neon tubing or the like, forming a gaseous tube adapted to glow when the terminals thereof are connected to a. suitable source of current.

Panel I can be omittedand the grid l2 and reflector l3 to be presently described, mounted within. the casing [0. When this is'done any suitable medium, such as a. stencil or perforated plate, can be used in front of the grid to form the sign proper. The panel It or any other medium placed in frontof the grid is hereinafter termed sign indicia.

Immediately behind said grid and partially supported thereby is located the reflector l3, held in place and pressed outwardly by the resilient strips ll of sponge rubber or the like, which are supported on the mounting plate l5 secured to and partially closing the rear of the frame ill,

except for the apertures I5a, lib, I50, to provide for ventilation to the interior of the casing.

All of the foregoing assembly is practically the same as that shown in the copending application pended claims wherein these elements are claimed in combination with the new anduseful elements hereinafter disclosed.

The mounting plate any suitable manner, a transformer having a primary winding l6 and a secondary winding il the latter being connected directly to the terminals of the grid l2, as shown in Figure 3.

The vprimary I6 is connected to an interrupter generally indicated by the numeral it applied to the base thereof to indicate that the interrupter may, if desired, be madeon a base and removable as a unit from the mounting plate l5. This interrupter maybe of any desired typegeither a vibrating device as shown, a thermionic device, a commutator whereby a true reversalof polarity is obtained or any other device, severalof which are known, that will modify the. direct-:current t5 has secured thereto in I output from a suitable source of energy'such as I the batteries 28 so that it will, via the transformer windings i6, i1, operate the gaseous tubeor grid l2 and illuminate the same.

The interrupter unit shown here merely as illustrative of such a-device, comprises a base I8 upon which is insulatedly supported in any suitable manner the reed I! having an armature 2|! adapted to be attracted by the core 2| of an electromagnet, the winding 22 of which is in series with the contacts 23, one of which moves with reed l5.

Another set of contacts 24 controls the circuit through the primary it of the transformer, as shown in Figure 3. A switch 25 is mounted on an extension 26 carried on the plate l5 and projects through an opening in the back 21 which can therefore be removed from the front l without disturbing any of the wiring or apparatus as nothing is secured thereto. This switch is in series with the battery comprised of the cells 28, as many as necessary being employed.

The first cell.28a of the battery is provided with a contact member 29 insulatedlymounted on plate l and adapted to automatically contact with and engage one of the terminals of the cell. A support 30 is also provided and insulated from 4 plate l5.

Each succeeding cell 28 is provided with a simi-.

' lar independently insulated contact member 29a and an independent support 30 insulatedly mounted on the plate IS.

The contact members 29a and supports 30 are connected as shown in Figure 1 and all the cells 28a, 28 are therefore in series between the first contact member 29 and the last support 30a.

The first contact member 29 is connected to the primary winding it of the transformer and to the electromagnet winding 22 of the interrupter.

The last support 30a is connected to the switch 25, all as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The members 29, 29a and 30, 30a, have suilicient tension to permit the battery cells to be securely gripped in operative position. Should it be necessary to replace a cell, it is merely pulled out of its support and another forced into position. This obviates all wire connections and the use of tools and is a change that can be successfully performed by the most unskilled.

In operation, the switch 25 being closed, current flows from terminal 30a of the battery 28 through contacts 23 to winding 22 of the vibrator and to terminal 2! of the battery 28a via conductor 3|.

As the reed l9 vibrates, due to the operation of the core 2i and contacts 23, the circuit (from 30a via switch 25, contacts 24, conductor 32, primary l6 and terminal 28 via conductor 33) is interrupted. Thisactuates the transformer, the secondary winding ll of which being directly connected to the grid l2, causes the latter to glow.

Condensers 34, 35 are connected across the nary dry cells which can be obtained practically -70 everywhere, can be usedas a source of current and are easily and cheaply replaced when ex- It will be sen from the foregoing that the inven'tion provides a unitary sign structure comprising in a single portable casing, a glow tube adapted to form what is in effect a sheet of neon glow illuminating the area of the glass I I and all the necessary means for exciting said tube including a source of direct current and means (the interrupter) for utilizing this through the transformer to excite the glow tube.

It will also be noted that the output of the transformer, that is the voltage of the secondary ll, may be 5,000 or more. This would be painful if not dangerous to anyone coming in contact therewith. But by making the casing in and 21 of bakelite and completely enclosing all metal parts (the projecting parts of the switch 25 may be of insulating material) completesafety for the user is assured, for without removing the back 21 the user cannot get in contact with any live parts of the device or any metal parts whatever.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

'What is claimed is:

1. A portable sign comprising in combination, a source of electric current, an interrupter in circuit therewith, a transformer having a primary winding in circuit with said source and said interrupter, a secondary winding on said transformer, a gaseous tube grid connected to said secondary winding, a casing within which all of the aforesaid elements are mounted, a transparent panel in the front of said casing, means to position sign indicia in front of said panel, said grid engaging the inner face of said panel whereby said grid is adapted to illuminate said indicia when in operation, and resilient means urging said grid against saidpanel.

ing a frame having a transparent panel closing the front thereof, said panel supporting sign indicia, a gaseous tube positioned behind said indicia, a reflector behind said tube, resilient mounting means to press said reflector against said tube and said tube outwardly against said panel, a mounting plate supporting said resilient mounting means and adapted to partially close the back of.said frame, a plurality of battery cells mounted upon said plate, a transformer mounted on said plate, and an interrupter mounted on said plate, said interrupter being in series with said battery cells and the primary of said transformer, the secondary of said transformer being connected to the terminals of said gaseous tube.

3. A portable signcomprising in combination,

' a source of electric current, a transformer having a primary winding in circuit with said source, a mounting plate upon which said source of current is insulatedly supported together with said transformer, an interrupter in circuit with said source of electric current and said primary winding said interrupter having a base forming a unit therewith adapted to be mounted on said mounting plate, a secondary winding on said transformer, a gaseous tube connected to said secondary winding, and a casing of insulating material within which all of the aforesaid elements are mounted to permit the illumination of said tube to act as a sign.

4. A portable sign comprising in combination, a source of electric current, an interrupter in circuit therewith, a. transformer having a primary winding in circuit with said' source and said interru r' ter,--a secondary winding on said transformer, a gaseous tube connected to said secondary winding, a casing of insulating material within which allof the aforementioned elements are mounted, a metallic reflector positioned back of said gaseous tube and in contact therewith,- a resilient insulating member tend ingto press said reflector in contact with said. tube, and-means comprising a mounting plate secured to said casing and holding said resilient insulating member in position, said transformer and interrupter being mounted on said plate.

5. A portable sign comprising in combination a casing having a front opening therein, a transparent panel closing said front opening, a gaseous tube positioned behind said panel and partially supported thereby, a reflector behind said tube, resilient means in contact with said re- 3 flector, a mounting plate bearing against said resilient means, saidplate being secured to said casing and enclosing together therewith said tube and reflector, a source of electric current mounted within said casing, an interrupter in circuit with said source, a transformer having a primary winding in circuit withisaid source and said interrupter, of current and transformer being mountedon said plate and 'enclosedby said casing, a secondary winding on said transformer connected to said gaseous tube,- and switch means having a portion extending outside said casing adapted to control said source of electric current and connected in circuit with said source oi electric current nsnnr a. vsnbum-ma. JOHN. smvnlY.

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