US2147232A

US2147232A - Electric sign

Info

Publication number: US2147232A
Application number: US167920A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer L Ballew
Original assignee: ROBERT L SWATS
Current assignee: ROBERT L SWATS
Priority date: 1937-10-08
Filing date: 1937-10-08
Publication date: 1939-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-14

Description

E. L. BALLEW Feb. 14, 1939.

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Oct. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 jnv'erz for Elmer L. fiallew' E. L. BALLEW ELECTRIC SIGN Feb. 14, 1939.

Fild Oct. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnz/en 2'02" Elmer L- ,Ballew Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC SIGN Elmer L. Ballew, Chicago, 111., assiznor ofonehalf to Robert L. Swats, Chicago, 11].

Application October a, 1937, Serial m. 167,920

4 Claims; (cilia-1:2)

This invention relates to an electric sign.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved electric sign which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and maintenance and eflicient in use.

I am aware of the fact that electric signs embodying rotary discs and other movable elements have been used heretofore. However, in so far as I am aware these have generally been concerned with providing spiral or whirling lighting effects. I have found, however, that a novel and interesting sign or display device may be constructed by creating the effect or illusion of a series of what appears to be "balls of light being projected radially outwardly from the center of the sign toward the periphery thereof, rather than by creating a spiral or whirling efiect.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a novel electric sign of the so-cal1ed neon or luminous tube type, embodying a rotary disc, and which is so constructed that when in use it creates the illusion in the eye of an observer of a series of so-called balls of light being thrown radially outwardly from the center of the rotary disc toward the periphery thereof, as if by centrifugal action, much in the manner in which drops of water might be thrown out from a rotating element, by centrifugal force, thereby creating a novel and interesting lighting effect and one which readily attracts the eye and attention of an observer.

A further object of the present invention is to construct one form of the same in such a manner that a continuously moving endless element or belt, which is provided with a row of lightpenetrable slots, is caused to move in front of one or a series of so-called neon or luminous tubes, thereby producing the illusion in the eye of an observer of a series of so-called balls of light being projected from one edge of the housing toward the other edge thereof, as the endless ele-- ment or belt is moved continuously in one direction in the housing.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view, partly I in elevation, of one form of the new sign;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view on 5 line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of rotary disc which may be used in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the new sign, with a part of the front 5 wall thereof broken away so as to reveal part of the interior thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

One form of the new electric sign is shown in 1 Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, is therein generally indicated at l0 and comprises a casing or housing l which includes a side wall l2, rear wall l3, and a front wall H, the latter being preferably in the form of an opaque or painted glass sheet which :5 is held in place by a suitable frame i5, and is provided with a series of radially arranged slots l6, (Fig. 2).

Suitably mounted in the casing or housing II is a horizontally extending shaft I! which is 20 operated by a conventional motor mechanism l8, and mounted on this shaft l1, adjacent the front thereof, is a rotary disc l9 which is shown as being provided with a generally S-shaped slot 20; or, if desired, the disc I! may be replaced by the disc 2i (Fig. 4) which is provided with the generally clover-shaped design 22; it being noted (Fig. 4) that each of the four (or more) elements in the design is substantially oval-shaped in appearance and more or less resembles a 30 horseshoe in shape, for a reason to be explained presently.

Stationarily mounted in the housing ll, rearwardly of the disc IS, on a suitable frame 25, is a series of radially arranged so-called neon or luminous tubes 30 which are shown as being arranged in two groups 25'-26 and 2'|28, the terminals of the group 25'-26 being electrically connected to a transformer 3| and the terminals of the group 21-28 being electrically connected to a transformer 32.

In the use of the form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the gas-conducting or luminous tubes 30 are rendered luminous by current from the transformers 3l32, in a manner which is well understood in the art, and the shaft l1 and disc I9 are rotated by the motor mechanism l8. Accordingly, when the slotted disc I9 is rotated (relatively slowly) in front of the radially arranged luminous tubes 30, and rearwardly of the radially arranged slots or lightpenetrable areas in the front wall H of the housing H, the effect that is produced in the eye of an observer is to create the illusion that a series of what may be called, for lack of a better term, "balls" of light are projected radially outwardly from the axial center of the device which is represented by the shaft l'l, toward the periphery thereof. This effect is due, in part, to the motion of the slot 20 in the disc IS in front of the radially arranged tubes In, and in part to the fact that because of the opaque front wall only the particular tubes 30 may be seen at one time which are in alignment with the slot 2|! in the disc I! and with the corresponding radial slots H5 in the opaque front wall It.

While so-called luminous or neon tube signs, employing rotary discs, have been heretofore used I have found that none of these, in so far as I am aware, produces the novel effect which is created by the radial arrangement of the tubes 30 and slots IS in alignment or registration with each other and on opposite sides of the slotted rotary disc 19, so as to produce an effect which may be described, as stated above, as resembling balls" of light projected radially outwardly along each of the tubes 30. It will be noted, in this connection, that this effect is obtained only if and when the slotted disc i9 is rotated counterclockwise, (Fig. 2) since in this event the radially inner end portion of the slot in the disc l9 moves in front of, or into registration with, each of the tubes before the radially outer end por-r tion thereof moves into alignment or registration with the same, thereby exposing only part of each tube at one time and gradually exposing each tube radially outwardly from its radially inner end, and thus producing the effect of so-called balls of light. The foregoing effect may, of course, be reversed by rotating the disc I! in the opposite direction (clockwise, Fig. 2), whereupon the so-called balls" of light will travel inwardly from the radially outer ends of the tubes since in this latter event the radially outer end portion of the slot 20 will move into alignment or registration with each tube 20 prior to the radially inner end portion of the same.

If desired the disc 2| (Fig. 4) may be substituted for the disc I! and in this event the movement of the so-called "balls of light will be first radially outwardly (when the disc 2| is rotated counterclockwise, Fig. 4) and then inwardly because of the fact that one side A of each slot 22, by reason of its curvature, will expose the radially inner end portion of each tube 30 first and then the remaining portion of the same, whereas the other side B of each slot 22 will expose the radially outer end of each tube first and then the remaining part of the tube.

While the opaque and slotted front wall H has been shown (Fig. 3) as embodied in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, this opaque and slotted front wall may be replaced by a plain glass front, if desired, without destroying the novel lighting effect described above, although the effect is somewhat better, sharper, and more distinct, when using the opaque front wall than when omitting it.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, is therein generally indicated at 3|, and comprises a casing or housing II, which is somewhat similar to the housing ll, except that the housing 3| includes a front wall 32 which is provided with a transparent window 33. Rotatably mounted in the housing 3! is a horizontal shaft 34 on which is mounted a disc 35 which may be provided with an S-shaped slot 36, such as the slot l6 which is provided in the disc I! or, if desired, the disc 21 (Fig. 4) may be substituted for the disc II.

Mounted in the housing 3|, rearwardly of the disc 25, is a stationary supporting wall or disc 31 and mounted in this wall I1 is a series of radially arranged rows of light-penetrable elements or glass buttons 38, while suitably supported in the housing 3|, behind each of the rows of buttons 38, is a light source in the form of a luminous or so-called neon tube 38.

In the use of the form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the shaft 34 and disc 35 are projected by means of a suitable motor mechanism (not shown), and as the slotted disc 35 is rotated in front of the light-penetrable elements or glass buttons 28 an illusion is created, in the eye of an observer, which is identical to that which is produced by the form of the invention which is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

While I have illustrated and described preferred forms of construction for carrying my invention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I clatirii'iS as new and desire to protect by Letters Paten 1. An electric sign comprising a housing having a series of radially arranged light sources therein, said housing including an opaque front wall provided with a series of radially arranged lightpenetrable areas corresponding to, and adapted to register with, the said light sources, an opaque disc rotatably mounted in the said housing between the said front wall and the said light sources and having a light-penetrable area progided therein, and means for rotating the said 2. An electric sign comprising a housing having a series of radially arranged luminous gas-conducting tubes therein, said housing including an opaque front wall provided with a series of radially arranged light-penetrable areas corresponding to, and adapted to register with, the said tubes, an opaque disc rotatably mounted in the said housing between the said front wall and the said tubes and having a slot formed therein, and

means for rotating the said disc.

3. An electric sign comprising a housing having a series of radially arranged luminous gas-conducting tubes therein, said housing including an opaque front wall provided with a series of radially arranged light-penetrable areas corresponding to, and adapted to register with, the said tubes, an opaque disc rotatably mounted in the said housing between the said front wall and the said tubes and having a generally S-shaped slot formed therein, and means for rotating the said disc.

4. An electric sign comprising a housing including a transparent front wall, an opaque upright support in the said housing rearwardly of the said front wall, a series of light-penetrable elements mounted in the said support in a predetermined configuration, means located rearwardly of the said elements for illuminating the same. an opaque disc rotatably mounted in the said housing between the said support and the said front wall and having a light-penetrable area therein, and means for rotating the said'disc.

ELMER L. BALLEW.