US2229611A

US2229611A - Luminous pedestrian control sign

Info

Publication number: US2229611A
Application number: US261054A
Authority: US
Inventors: Simon W Levitan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-03-10
Filing date: 1939-03-10
Publication date: 1941-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1958-01-21

Description

Jan. 21, 1941. s w vn- 2,229,611

LuMINoUs PEDESTRIAN CONTROL SIGN Filed March 10. 1939 3 m S/MO/v Wlzw TAN- 4 fla /M Patented Jan. 21, 1941 2,229,611 LUMINOUS PEDESTBIAN CONTROL SIGN Simon W. Levitan, Washington, D. 0.

Application March 10,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a luminous indicating sign, and more particularly to a luminescent gaseous sign designed for the control of pedestrian trafli-c.

Increasing traffic fatalities and injuries have necessitated the taking of precautionary measures having for their aim the reduction of traffic accidents. Safety campaigns to educate both the driving public as well as the pedestrians to lo the dangers attendant present traiiic conditions are general. Furthermore, proposals have been made to promulgate regulations governing the conduct of pedestrians, particularly at crosswalks or street intersections, these regulations to be enforceable by force of law. It is the object of the present invention to provide an indicating sign which furthers the aims mentioned generally above and which present material advanbases to pedestrians, drivers, law-enforcing 0th- 2 cers and the public at large.

The indicating sign presented herein has for its object the control of pedestrians at street intersections which will indicate at a glance to both drivers and pedestrians a signal condition for the latter to walk or to desist from walking across the intersection.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a luminous sign of the conducting gaseous type which is rugged and not costly in construction and economical in operation and maintenance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a luminous gaseous sign which provides a clearly visible signal for both signalling conditions, namely, the signal for the pedestrians to proceed as well as the signal admonishing or ordering the pedestrians not to proceed across the street.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of the sign in accordance with the present invention, with only 45 the right portion being luminous;

Eigure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2- -2 0! Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a right end view of the sign; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along 50 line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The indicating sign is formed of a continuous tube 2 delineating the words Don't walk which is formed in two portions 3 and l, and which is mounted in a conventional manner in front of II the metallic casing I. The portion I outlines the 1939, Serial No. 261,054

word Don't and the portion 4 outlines the word Walk. Electrode terminal 5 is disposed at the beginning of the portion 3, and the electrode terminal 6 is disposed at the end of the portion 4.

An additional electrode terminal I is disposed between the words Dont and Walk. The continuous formation of the tube presents a marked simplification in manufacture resulting in economy in production.

The-tube 2 is evacuated and filled with ,a suitable gas such as neon,

helium, argon, krypton,

etc, to which may be added coloring agents such as mercury, if desired. The sign may be formed of conventional tubing or of fluorescent glass.

Any expedients known in the art of luminescent gaseous signs may be adopted in the production of a sign in accordance tion.

Transformers l0 and with the present inven- H are disposed within the casing l for the purpose of energizing selectively the complete sign, or else only the concluding part 4 thereof.

The secondary winding of transformer I0 is connected to the

electrode terminals

5 and 6 and serves to render luminous the complete sign Dont walk. The secondary winding of transformer H is connected to the electrode terminals I and 6 and serves to render luminous only portion 4 of the sign, Walk. Suitable switching mechanisms may be incorporated in the primary circuits of the transformers l0 and H to periodically energize the indications Don't walk and Walk, utilizing time clocks, re-

lays, and like devices,

well known in the art.

The casing may be .formed witha shade la in order that the sign may day as well as by, night.

be clearly visible by The illumination of the alternate signal indications produces an eye-arresting effect upon the ducive to a compliance pedestrians and is conwith the signals as they are attractively and positively indicated in accordance with the present invention.

The sign in accordan vention presents another virtue of the continuous delineates both sign designations.

of the tube operates to sign designation that false signals with the present indistinct advantage by tube construction which A breakage eliminate the complete rise to no possibility sign is broken, which might be the case if the sign were composed of two separate tube portions.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in specific manner for purposes or illustration, should be understood th a it at I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A luminous pedestrian control sign formed in a substantially horizontal line of a continuous gaseous tube formed of two portions and constituting in its totality a negative admonition topedestrians against proceeding across a street with the concluding portion of the sign constituting a positive designation for pedestrians to proceed across the street, electrode terminals at the beginning and the end of the tube and an additional electrode terminal at an intermediate point of the tube at the beginning of the concluding portion thereof, and means for selectively impressing an energizing potential between said first-mentioned electrode terminals for rendering luminous the complete length of the gaseous tube and an energizing potential between said additional electrode terminal and the electrode terminal at the end of the tube for rendering luminous only the concluding portion of the tube.

2. A luminous indicating sign formed of a continuous gaseous tube delineating words signifying Dont walk in a substantially horizontal line, electrode terminalsat the beginning and the end of the gaseous tube, an additional electrode terminal between the words cooperating with the electrode at the end of the tube, and energizing means connected to said electrode terminals whereby the sign may selectively render luminous the designations signifying Dont walk and Walk.

3. A luminous pedestrian control indicating sign formed of a continuous gaseous tube delineating the words Don't walk in a substantially horizontal line, electrode terminals at the beginning and the end of the gaseous tube and an addition-al electrode terminal at an intermediate point or the tube ,between the words, and means for selectively impressing an energizing potential between said first-mentioned electrode terminals to illuminate the complete length of the tube to designate a Don't walk signal and an energizing potential between said additional electrode terminal and end electrode terminal to designate a Walk signal.

SDMON W. LEVITAN.