US2266724A - Advertising sign - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1941. G, GoLpBERG ETAL 2,266,724

ADVERTISING lSIGN Filed Dec. 8, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 1 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 16, 1941. G GQLDBERG ET AL 2.266,72@- v ADVERTIS ING SIGN Filed Deo. 8, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 2 Tua-5 i9 76 J3 J7 El a:

INVENTORS l GEosfs/E GOLDBE G AND MH. GRAF 4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNTED ADVERTISING SIGN George Goldberg and Emil Graf, New York, N. Y.,

assignors to G. & G. Precision Works, Inc., av

corporation of New York 3 Claims.

Our invention relates to advertising signs having moving three dimensional letters in outline.

Objects of our invention are to provide a sign of the foregoing character having letter supporting means which will permit the installation and removal of the letters therefrom in a simple and safe manner; to provide a novel arrangement for aixing the letter supporting means to a standard type of link chain; to provide a construction whereby only the letters may be seen in motion; to provide means whereby the letters may be interchangeably positioned in various sections of the advertising device.

We accomplish Ythese and other objects and obtain our new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following description, particularly pointed out in the attached claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of our novel advertising sign.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the top section removed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of two sections of the chain to which the letter support is attached during assembly. l

Fig. 4 is a side View in partial section of the same.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the letter support removed from the chain.

Fig. 6 is an end view of a modied form of the same. v

Fig. 7 is a form of lock washer used in the letter supporting assembly.

Fig. 8 is a pespective View of a modified form of our novel sign.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral I0 designates the cover or top section of the sign, housing the mechanism within, mounted on the base section ll. Through rectangular aperture l2, the letters i3 may be seen, against an illuminated translucent screen i4. A similar opening, not shown, may be provided in the rear for additional display.

The ends of the cover I0 may be rounded as at I5, to permit the letter supporting mechanism to turn corners and clear the cover, as will be hereinafter described.

In Fig. 2, a plan View of the internal mechanism is shown.

Upon the base Il, a base plate I6, adjustably mounted thereon by bolt I1 entering slots I8 carries the motor I9 with speed reduction mechanism 29, rotatmg driving sprocket 2l mounted 2| with auxiliary sprocket 2&1, upon which is integrally mounted driving sprocket 25 Carrying the endless chain 25 upon which letter supports 21 are mounted in a manner hereinafter described.

' Sprockets 28 rotatably mounted on the base il by pins 2S are located at the four corners of the base together with similar sprockets 3U, mounted on the side opposite the motor for supporting the chain 23 where it is redirected to the motor driven sprocket.

Letters i3 are carried in supports 21 past the translucent screen Ml, supported by brackets 3| and illuminated by bulbs 32 mounted in sockets 35i, supported on the base il. The sockets are electrically wired under the base section Il, switch 34 operating the motor and/or bulbs. A metal plate 35 mounted on the base section il, underneath long stretches of the chain prevents sagging and permits the sprocket teeth to enter the space between links without audibly clicking.

The letters I3 provided with base extensions 93A are mounted on the channel shaped letter supports 21 as shown in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, consisting of two side walls 36 and 31 and a base section 38, centrally depressed as at 39 to receive a washer 4t. Two pins @il and t2 protrude through corresponding apertures i3 and 44 of Washer 130 and may be integrally attached thereto by swedging or soldering, or detachably mounted. The free end of pins il and 42 are provided with annular recesses 43 and 46 for locking engagement with split spring washer 41 of equal thickness as the width of the annular recess and adapted to vbe positioned about the pins within the recesses by spreading the split end of the split washer.

The letter supports 21 are attached to the well known type of link chain 23 in the following manner:

The links are formed into sections having extending inner links 48, spacers 49 and bushing with the normally riveted pins 5l removed. The support pins 4| and 42 are inserted through the apertures of an outer link 52, through the bushing, spacers :and inner link assembly, thereafter throughthe two apertures of anouter link 53, where the spit spring washer 41 is locked thereon. Thus two sections of links are pivotally mounted together about a pair of pins carrying a support for supporting the letters. Since each pair of pins .passing through both ends of the same link are xedly spaced from each other, the support is carried in the same manner and rotates and on pin 22. Driving chain 23 connects SPIOCkel? 55 moves integrally with its corresponding link.

In Fig. 5, the letter I3 is shown as being gripped on base extension I3A by the side walls 36 and 31 of support 21 permitting the letters to be removed longitudinally or transversely.

In Fig. 6 the letter 54 is provided with longitudinal indentations 55 on the base extension, into which side walls 56 of support 51 slide. The letters must be removed and installed from one end of this support.

A part of the housing of the sign is a channel shaped member IA which supports the chain 26 between the two sprockets on either side of the rectangular aperture I2, and prevents vibration of the letters, as well as rendering invisible the letter supports.

In signs of this type, a considerable number of letters are needed far in excess of those actually in use. We have provided a slot 60 shown in Fig. l, on the top cover I0 shaped in cross section as channel 35, into which a portion of the remainder of the letters may be inserted to provide additional advertising space, without encumberng the sign with extending letter gripging or supporting means unaesthetic in appearance when not in use.

The space behind the non-moving letters in slot 60 may be provided with a light transmitting panel 6I, which will furnish an attractive illumination for the letters located on the top of the cover which illumination can come from the same bulbs 32, providing the light for the screen I4. A corresponding slot 62 may be provided on the opposite side of the cover for an additional display from the opposite direction.

In Fig. 8, the device in modified form is shown, which emphasizes the 'effect of non-visibility for the letter support and means for creating motion.

A passageway or channel 63 is formed around the perimeter of the sign, large enough to permit the letters to enter and exit with proper clearance. The passageway is removed from the front section 64, permitting the letters to be furth'er separated from the background. A horizontal light transmitting panel 65 is provided at the same level as the bottom of the letters which will permit light to strike the letters 66 from the rear. Merchandise may b'e placed on the light transmitting panel for effective display.

Only one aperture has been described in detail, but corresponding parts may be provid-ed for two-way visibility as shown in Fig. 2, wherein 3|A represents the rear brackets for supporting MA, the light transmitting screen, illuminated by bulbs 32A mounted in sockets 33A. Channel IBB lsupports the chain 26 between outer sprockets 28.

An important feature resides in the assembly of the letter supports 21 to the chain. The chains are manufactured in units having a number of links sufficient t space the supports properly on the chain. The end links are not provided with pins, the two projecting pins of the support substituting therefor in an identical manner. Thus the assembly of the support to th'e links is accomplished efciently and expeditiously.

We have thus described our invention, but we desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, therefore, we claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming Within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which. objects of our invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A sign comprising a base member; an endless band rotatably mounted thereon; a plurality of three dimensional letters in outline; means for supporting said letters on said endless band substantially over its entire length; a motor for rotating said endless band; and housing means mounted on said base member for covering -said motor, endless band and letters and letter supporting means, and having a cut-out section to permit only said three dimensional letters in outline to be visible therethrough, said housing means having a light transmitting member mounted parallel to the base member and on a level substantially that of the letter supporting means.

2. A sign comprising a base member, an endless link chain rotatably mounted thereon; a plurality of letters; a channel for supporting the letters mounted on a single link of said chain and having a length of channel suicient to support a plurality of letters; a motor for rotating said endless chain; and housing means mounted on said base member and spaced from the endless chain to permit the channels to rotate freely therein.

3. A sign comprising a base member, an endless link chain rotatablyrmounted thereon; a plurality of letters; a channel for supporting the letters mounted on a single link of said chain and having a length of channel sufcient to support a plurality of letters; a motor for rotating said endless chain; and housing means mounted on said base member having a cut-out at one side thereof for viewing the letters, 'and spaced therefrom to provide a minimum clearance from the front thereof and having recesses at the sides of said housing to permit the channels carrying theletters to rotate therein without touching the housing.

GEORGE GOLDBERG. EMIL GRAF.

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