US2156553A - Display device - Google Patents

Description

V. L. VENDOPE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 4; 1956 W1. lf/vpapb Patented May 2, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Van L. Vcndope, Dallas, Tex., assignor of thirtythree and one-third per cent to Richard Burdick and thirty-three and one-third per cent to Arthur S. Baron, both of Dallas, Tex.

Application August 4, 1936, Serial No. 94,266

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved display device adapted to be applied to an ordinary lumiline lamp, or other tubular member.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved display device including a sleeve member or cover having indicia thereon, which cover or sleeve is arranged to engage over a lumiline lamp, whereby the indicia appears to be displayed' on the lamp and actual painting or otherwise displaying the indicia on the lamp proper is eliminated; the cover or sleeve member being readily removable from the lamp, whereby changes of the indicia displayed on a single lamp may be made without changing the lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display device for lumiline lamps including a transparent sleeve fitting over said lamp throughout the length thereof, and a display member or sheet having indicia thereon adapted to be inserted between the surface of the lamp and the sleeve, which sleeve retains the 5 display sheet in position with the indicia on said sheet visible therethrough; the sheet being removable so that a sheet having different indicia may be substituted therefor without removing the sleeve from the lamp.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved display device for a tubular lamp including a sheet having indicia thereon arranged to overlie the surface of the lamp so as to follow the contour thereof, with means for retaining the sheet on the lamp in a fixed position so as to prevent its sliding or moving out of display. position.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention-is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric View of an ordinary electrical lumiline lamp having a display device, constructed in accordance with the invention, applied thereto, and portions thereof being broken away,

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 1, the lamp being in elevation,

Figure 3 is an elevation of one end of the lamp and device, viewing the same from the side opposite that shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on. the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of a slightly modified form of the invention,

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates a tubular electric lamp, which is known as a lumiline lamp, and which may be purchased on the open market. The ends of the lamp are fitted with the usual contact caps I l which frictionally engage the same and which have the electrical contacts It? for insertion into an electrical outlet or plug (not shown), whereby electrical current is conducted to the lamp to lightthe same. Since the lamp forms no part of the invention and is of the usual construction, the details of the caps It, as well as their connection to the ends of the lamp are deemed unnecessary. The invention is not to be limited to this particular type of lamp but may be applied to any tubular lamp.

I':. has been found that tubular lamps have come into wide use in signs and other displays. Due to the attractiveness of the tubular lamp, said lamp provides a valuable advertising space, and therefore, by painting or otherwise applying indicia to the outer surface of the lamp, a most effective and attractive display may be had. However, by permanently affixing the indicia to the lamps surface, the lamp is rendered useless for other displays and use. Also, if the occasion for the display has passed, then the lamp must be discarded.

In carrying out the invention, an elongate sleeve l3 (Figures 5 and 6), which is arranged to encircle the lamp, is provided. This sleeve is preferably of the same length as the lamp so as to cover the entire surface thereof, although it could, if desired, be'made shorter. The sleeve is constructed of Cellophane or other similar ma'erial and it is desirable that the sleeve be transparent so that the light from the lamp is visible therethrough. It is possible, however, to make the sleeve translucent or opaque and although light rays could not pass directly through, yet the purpose of the invention could be carried out. The attractiveness of the display may be enhanced by coloring the sleeve either the same color as the lamp or a different color.

Suitable indicia I4 is displayed on the outer surface of the sleeve and this indicia may take the form of printing, writing, figures, pictures, etc. The indicia or figures may be suitably colored, and when the sleeve is made of transparent material, the lamp surface, lighted or unlighted, is clearly visible therethrough and the indicia appear to be painted or afflxed directly on the lamp surface. The sleeve may be readily placed on. or removed from the lamp by merely removing one of the caps I l and sliding the sleeve over the end of the lamp. It is obvious that with this arrangement, the sleeve may be readily removed so that another sleeve carrying different indicia may be substituted therefor. The surface of the lamp proper is never marred and thus, the lamp is not in any way changed. If it is desired to use the lamp in the ordinary manner, the sleeve is removed and the usual lamp is had. It is preferable that the sleeve be made of Cellophane", or other similar material, so as to reduce the manufacturing costs but it is possible to construct the sleeve of thin glass which could be either transparent or frosted.

In some cases, it is desirable to change the indicia each day, and for this purpose an insertable sheet l5 may be provided. The sheet being,

either transparent or opaque, has the desired indicia l6 printed, or otherwise displayed thereon and is inserted around the lamp beneath the sleeve l3 (Figures 1 and 3). The portion of the sleeve covering the sheet is transparent so that the indicia I6 is visible therethrough. It is not necessary that the sheet completely encircle the lamp but it need only be sufliciently large to accommodate the indicia. It is apparent that the sleeve acts as a retaining member to hold the sheet in place, and with this arrangement the display may be changed by merely removing the sheet and substituting a new one therefor. The sleeve in this case need never be removed and may or may not have indicia thereon, as desired.

In placing thesheet between the sleeve and lamp, the frictional contact of the sleeve therewith is depended upon to hold the sheet in proper position so as to present the indicia to an observer at the front of the lamp. Ordinarily this frictional engagement of the sleeve is suflicient, but in some instances it has been found that the sheet slides or moves circumferentially around 'the lamp so that only a portion of the indicia is visible from the front of the lamp.

For holding the sheet in a fixed position with relation to the sleeve, said sleeve may be provided on its rear side with openings l6. Tongues I! are formed on the longitudinal edges of the sheet I5 and are arranged to engage in the openings, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. When so engaged the sheet I5 is incapable of movement with relation to the sleeve l3, and thus the indicia or display on said sheet is held in a fixed position on the lamp. It is again noted that the sleeve l3 may be used by itself, or it may be employed to retain the insertable sheet in position. In either case no indicia is affixed to the lamp proper although the effect of such display is given.

In Figure 7 I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention, in which a cover 20 is provided. The cover is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and may be made of Celluloid or other material having a degree of resiliency. The longitudinal edges of the cover may be spread to engage the same over the lamp and the inherent elasticity of the material will cause the same to snugly engage the lamp. of course, if desired, the cover may he slid onto the lamp over the end, as is the sleeve.

It is noted that in all cases any number of complete advertisements or displays may be placed on a single sleeve or cover, and the invention-is not to be limited to displaying a single advertisement on the sleeve. Although it is preferabie to paint or otherwise permanently display the indicia on the sleeve or cover, it would be possible to make said sleeve or cover of an opaque material through which the light cannot pass, and then to cut out portions of the sleeve or cover to form the desired indicia. In such case, it will be obvious that the lamp surface would be visible through the cut-out portions and when the lamp is lighted, the effect of an illuminated lettering is produced. It is pointed out that although the sleeve or cover has been described as removable, it would be possible to cement, or otherwise permanently attach, said sleeve or cover to the surface of the lamp. With such arrangement, it

will be obvious that indicia may be printed on the cover or sleeve, thereby eliminating the necessity of painting or otherwise afiixing the indicia to the lamp surface.

Although the sleeve or cover has been described as having indicia, or other display thereon, such indicia could be eliminated and said sleeve may be of a contrasting color, whereby the lamp may be givenany desired color. The colored sleeve may or may not extend throughout the length of the lamp.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Illuminable display means, comprising, in combination, a tubular lamp element of the character described and having detachable cap members at its opposite ends of greater diameter than the tube proper, and interchangeable external illuminable display sleeves loosely fitting the lamp tube and when applied being removably retained by said detachable cap members, the respective display-sleeves being open at their opposite ends whereby to be slipped, either end first, onto and from the lamp tube.

2. An interchangeable display device, comprising, in combination, an'elongate tubular lamp having detachable caps at its opposite ends, an external illuminable display sleeve fitted removably on the lamp tube proper and retained by said detachable cap members, a portion of said sleeve being transparent, and an illuminable sheet of lesser length than said sleeve and inserted between the lamp tube and said sleeve in region of the transparent portion of the sleeve and having indicia visible through'said portion.

3. The combination with an elongate tubular lamp having detachable contact elements arranged to frictionally engage the ends of the lamp and extend laterally therefrom, of an exter-' nal illuminable display sleeve open at its ends and arranged to be slidably engaged over said lamp prior to the attachment of the contact elements, whereby after said sleev'eis in place and the elements are positioned, the sleeve cannot be removed from the lamp.

' VAN L. VENDOPE.

Images