US2448937A

US2448937A - Neon light

Info

Publication number: US2448937A
Application number: US602980A
Authority: US
Inventors: George L Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-07-03
Filing date: 1945-07-03
Publication date: 1948-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1965-09-07

Description

p 7, 1948- 5. 1. WALTER 2,448,937

NEON LIGHT Filed July 3, 1945 IN VEN TOR: 6:01:78 1;. Walk;

BY I

Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NEON LIGHT George L. Walter, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 3, 1945, Serial No. 802,980

2 Claims. (Cl. 176-126) The present invention relates to neon lights and specifically to means for securing neon light tubes to electrical outlets in such a manner as to permit ready attachment and detachment of the tube to form various sign elements.

At the present time it is the customary practice to provide neon signs wherein the tubes are shaped to order. Such a requirement is costly, requires skilled workmen, both in the fabrication of the tubes and the erection thereof for the sign, results in a sign that is not readily changed to meet varying conditions, and is expensive if the tubes of the sign become broken.

An object of the present invention is to provide neon light tubes made in such lengths and shapes as to'permit the individual to form his own sign. By so constructing the sign that the letters or numerals are independent, it is possible in case of breakage to remove the broken tube and insert a new one without disturbing the other tubes. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to so relate the tubes as to permit ready arranging thereof, so that a sign of any charactag may be built by the individual owner of the u es.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a neon light tube so constructed and arranged as to permit the tube to be plugged into a socket, and when so plugged into the socket to be balanced in such a manner than any angularity may be assumed by the tube relative to the socket.

Other objects include a neon light tube which is simple of structure, easily fabricated and superior to tubes now known to the inventor.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the certain relationship of elements and means, as hereinafter shown in the drawing, described generally, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a tube embodying the invention and shown detached from a socket member;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow of P18. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 83 of Fig. 1; and I Fi 4 is an elevation of a sign which-may incorporate the invention.

Referring now to the drawingr I is a neon tube which is adapted to contain a gas to be incandesced in the usual manner.

its

ends

2 and 3. It is usual however to provide manufacture.

2 external contacts for the ends, which in turn engage snap sockets, whereby electrical current may be directed to the electrodes within the tube and adjacent to the. ends. In the present instance, and assuming an elongated straight tube of the character shown in Fig. 1, I provide electrodes 4 and I within the tube, which electrodes may be of any form desired, and in the present instance are shown in spherical form. These electrodes are supported by electrical conductors 6 and I, which conductors are passed transversely through the tube I adjacent the

ends

2 and 3 thereof, and then are positioned adjacent to the external surface or periphery of the tube and parallel to the axis thereof, as indicated at I and 8. Substantially at the center of gravity of the tube is positioned a plug ID, the conductors I and 9 being connected to the prongs II and I2 of said plug. Preferably the plug I0 is of conventional type so as to fit within a conventional socket I3. The

conductors

8 and 9 when so positioned adjacent to the periphery oi-the tube are covered with a silica compound, such as glass, which is then fused to the neon tube in the usual manner. This silica compound or glass is shown at It and I5, and covers a portion of the ends 2 and I, as illustrated generally at I6. As stated, this silica compound becomes bonded to the tube structure. I may, in one embodiment of the invention, encase the

conductors

8 and 9 within a. glass sheathing of any character or form, after which the sheathing is bonded to the periphery of the neon tube I in any approved manner, such as by the use of fusing methods employed in glass The neon tube is of necessity hermetically sealed after the introduction of a gas therein, and the construction of the present tube and the arrangement of the conductors does not permit any escape of gas around the conductors outwardly of the tube.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated by way of example a signboard I! which carries the sockets I3 at various and sundry locations thereof. Each letter will be provided with a plug, the prongs of which are adapted to be inserted within one of the sockets. In the present instance certain of the sockets have been selected and the letters USN are positioned in alignment. In a similar manner otherletters might be selected and their plugs placed in different sockets to form words. It is within the intent of the invention that certain of the tubes of a set shall be curved and others straight. Thus by providing two U-shaped short length tubes, it is possible to plug the same within two sockets and form the letter 8; or one U- 3 shaped portion and two short length straight tubes will provide the letter U. The letter N might be formed from one long length and two short length tubes. By providing the plugs at the center of gravity of a particular letter a letter may be neld either horizontally or vertically or inclined sideways.

The invention provides an inexpensive method of forming neon tubes and one which will perform in a superior manner.

By means of my invention, neon lights may be standardized to make neon signs; that is to say, machines may be used for making the letters of the alphabet and numerals of a suitable size, so that when a neon letter or numeral of a sign is broken, a duplicate thereof may be obtained from the factory or a dealer, directly or by mail order, and the broken letter or numeral replaced by the duplicate thereof. Furthermore, neighborhood merchants may carry my neon letters and numerals in stock and sell them to customers to replace broken letters or numerals.

I claim:

1. A neon light comprising a tube closed at its ends, electrodes within said tube adjacent the ends thereof, electric conductors lying along the outer side of the wall of said tube and extending at their outer ends through the outer ends of said tube to said electrodes, respectively, a plug intermediate the ends of said tube including a pair of prong contacts, to which contacts the inner ends of said conductors are connected, respectively, said tube being formed of glass, and the glass being cast over said conductors for sealing the same in the glass to prevent escape of gas from the ends of said tube past said electrodes.

2. A neon light as characterized by claim 1 in which the glass is cast to form the plug.

GEORGE L. WALTER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,803,439 Rosenstein May 5, 1931 1,961,735 Braun June 5, 1934 2,059,451 Green Nov. 3, 1936 2,227,739 Pollard Jan. 7, 1941 2,255,431 Marden Sept. 9, 1941 2,273,960 Hopkin Feb. 24, 1942 2,274,682 Ford Mar. 3, 1942 2,288,250 Morley June 30, 1942 2,339,166 Harrison Jan. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 120,626 Austria Jan. 10, 1931