US2528827A

US2528827A - Method of forming signs

Info

Publication number: US2528827A
Application number: US644533A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph S Harrison
Original assignee: Coca Cola Co
Current assignee: Coca Cola Co
Priority date: 1946-01-31
Filing date: 1946-01-31
Publication date: 1950-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-07

Description

Nov. 7, 1950 J. s. HARRISON 2,528,827

METHOD 0F FORMING SIGNS Filed Jan. 3l, 1946 Y@ [VMI-@i i @ai mi@ WM@ fil F1 fr5 FiA www@ 21 21 Figa I NVENTOR.

E ATTORNEK Patented Nov. 7, 17950 Joseph S. Harrison, Marietta, Ga., assignor to The Coca-Cola Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporationl of DelawareV Application January 31, 1946, Serial No. 644,533 K y This invention, as indicated, relates to a composite sign and method of making the same. More particularly, it comprises a sign formed of individual letter panels progressively set up on a supporting surface of glass or suitable sheet material wherein such letter panels are in closely abutting relation in a single plane, and it also includes the method of forming such sign. The panels are preferably of rectangular iiexible material or thin translucent sheets which may be of a gelatinous character or ofv similar composition, and are successively set up panel by panel and abutted with the adjacent letter panels in 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) a line contact of such close adherence and in the same plane that the meeting line cannot 'be detected even by reflected light. The invention includes the completed sign formed ofY such units alone or in combination with other'types of units, as well as the method of forming such sign.

In particular, the invention includes the method of setting up adjacent letter panels of thin gelatinous adhesive material or the like in spaced relation with their margins overlapping preliminary to their final adhesion to the surface and the severing of the two overlapped layers by a thin cutting instrument such as a razor blade, followed by the lifting of the panel margins and the removal of the severed strips preliminary to firmly pressing the meeting line of the letter panels against their supporting surface in permanent adherence thereto. 'I'he steps recited are repeated as to each additional letter panel successively positioned to complete the sign.

It is to be noted that when letter panels are referred to that any conventional indicia or ornament suitable for forming letter panel type signs may be used. These *arev substantially rectangu" lar units preferably adhesive coated providing a' letteror other matter .with area of the adjacent background. Y

The principal object of the present invention is'to pro-vide a sign made up of individual letter panels joined at their side edges with direct` listo-provider a method of making a sign by adhering letter panels of thin, adhesive material, preferablyV of exible gelatinous translucent units, progresl svely to a surface, before final settingof such adhesive material, in predetermined letter spacing positionwith overlapping margins and form-Y ing successively an ridentical meeting line for the adjacent panels sho-wing a uniformly level reflecting surface over the entire sign.

" Other and further objects vof the invention will appear in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consistsv of the means and method hereinafter fully dev scribed and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure eme.A bodying the invention and method of making the same, such disclosed means constituting-however; but several of various structural forms and methods of making the same, in which the prin ciple of the invention may be used. f

In said annexed drawing: l

Figurel is a rear elevation showing the'glass of a show Window or door with a sign embodying the principles of the invention in the course of application thereto, with a preliminary overlapl ping of the adjacent letter and word panels.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the overlapped panels and the method of forming an identical abutment line by simultaneously cutting the overlapped portions. y

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figures 1 and`2 illustrating a method of removing the severed strip from the uppermost panel.

Figure 4 isa View similar to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive showing a'method ofremoving the severed strip from the innermost panel.

Figure 5 isa View similar to Figures 1 to 4in'- elusive showing the completed sign with'A all theA panels abutted along identical ymeeting lines andy presenting a level upper surface free ofrangular reflections. Figure 6 is a View similar to Figures 1 to 5 in` elusive showingA the application of a sign in upwardly faced position toa non-transparent sur" face.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view greatly enlarged to illustrate the merging of the adjacent panels of a uniformly level surface along an identical marginal line of abutment; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the method of positioning -adjacentletter panelsv in accordance with the accepted standards for .spacing-the respectiveletters.v v.- f 1'.;

line I3.

' I and word panels 2 positioned on the inner surface of a window 3 in horizontal alignmentv so as to show from the outside the vsign Dots Candy. Y

',I'he sign units are preferably formed of a thin translucent flexible' element `of adhesive charac-4 teristics and preferably having a'gelatinous coat,

ing whereby on moistening adherence to the window surface will be increasingly established as the moisture evaporates. The units preferably are somewhat slow-setting in order to permit the forming of an identical line of abutment of the series of letter panels as will be presently described.

In forming the sign illustrated, the word panel Candy is secured in horizontal alignment on the' window to take up proportionate space as balanced against the name of the owner, in this instance Dotsv The letter panels may be placed on the window in either direction..

4 ure '7 wherein the letter-.panels I5 and I6 lie in a single plane togetherwith their line of abutment I'I which, by reason of the character of the thin adhesive material, merges into a substantially integral ksurface and provides rno multiple planes of reflection to emanate from the body of the Y sign.

The proportionate space to bev occupied by the owners name and the merchandise is measured 'in advance and then one or more blank panels l are positioned adjacent the margin of the window followed in succession by the

letterpanels v

5, 6, I, and the characterpanel 8, and the final letter panelrS. Each of these panels is abutted along an identical meeting line I I) in thef manner presently to be described in relation to the'nnal panel 9 and the word panel 2. The word'panel 2 is shown as a singleelongated panel and is -suit' v establish an identical cutting line. A cut is made by a sharp instrument such as a razor blade along line- I3 and the overlap I2 is thus severed along the line I3 and may be readily removed. The

margin of the letter panel 9 is then lifted so-as to expose the severed strip I4 of the word panel 2 which is readily removed. rSince there is an identical cutting line for the letter panel S and the Word panel Candy theyrwill meet along the cutting line I3 and may be firmly pressed into nal adherence to the inner surface offthe win- Y dow. Y Y e Where the sign is to be applied to a mirror or metal or plastic supporting surface or the like, substantially the same procedure is followed, the letters, however, being Aapplied in regular order to be read from the near side of the surface to'whichA the sign is to be applied. In such case, the letter panel 9 has overlapped the word panel 2 as shown in Figure .6 and the cutting line I3 has been established at an intermediate position and the severed strip I 4 is ready for removal from the supporting surface and the severed stripfIZ` of the letter panel is likewise ready for separation from the margin of the letter panel preliminary to the parts being abutted on the identical meeting The manner in which the surfaces of thev letter panels merge with each other is illustrated .Figa

Thus itfwill be noted that a'signis provided formed of a series of substantially rectangular letter panels lof thin adhesive nexible material verse side adjacent to the top with the words-v v Top-Back, and has short lines numbered 2, I and- 3 at the top and bottom left hand margin designed to be overlapped in accordance with the ytop of adjacent lettersrin alignment with one of the three lines so indicated.` Since the overlapping panels are moistenedin advance of their application to the surfaceand are covered with slowly setting adhesive, vthe panel may be laid down firmlyin position and thecutting line es tablished at a point approximatelymidvvay of the overlap sections. --The cuttingjline is preferably at least 1A!" inwardly vfrom the end of the under"` section softhat adequaterbody may be Vprovided to permit ready removal ofthe severed strip of the under-section. The method thus provides for establishing la predeterminedv letter spaced relation between each of the letter panels and at the same time permits the abutment of suchY letter panels along an identical marginal line of'contact. l

As has been indicated, it is not desired to limit the application of the invention to letter or wordl panels as Such, but use may beV made of various ornamental designs or parts vof larger designs adapted for indefinite extension over various, areas of the supporting member and in each instance an identical cutting line may be used to provide exact registry of'the marginal linesofthe design which are vto be carried fromfone panel to an adjacent panelrw-Ih this mannerl a sign may be constructed vvhichfwhenv viewedA by reected light, will not disclose the meeting linesr of the several parts ofthe signvv and thus the sign;` will be, in effect, free-from multiple reflections" and `will have the appearance' of -an integrally formed sign, notwithstanding that it is-o ffgcomf" positestructure. v f

Other forms may be employed lembo'dyingftlfie features of my invention insteadof'theone 'here explained, change being made inv the form or construction, provided the elements stated by .anyV j I therefore particularly point out and distinct'-V ly claim as my invention:

`1. vA method 'of forminglva sign'from letterpanels of thin adhesive material which comprises the l'steps Vof Aadhering va lettori panel selectedr comprising a letter area and a marginal background area to a surface along a predetermined line, mounting a second letter panel with its marginal background area adjacent said initial panel with the adjacent marginal areas in overlapping relation before the setting of the adhesive, severing the overlapped margins simultaneously along an identical line of severance, removing the severed portions, and pressing the panels against the supporting surface With the abutting edges merging in uniform contact and continuity of the sign surface,

2. A method of forming a sign from selected letter panels of thin adhesive gelatinous material which comprises the steps of adhering a letter panel to a surface along a predetermined line, mounting a second letter panel adjacent said initial panel in overlapping relation to the adjacent margin thereof before the setting of the adhesive, severing the overlapped margins simultaneously along an identical line of severance, removing the severed portions, and pressing the panels against the supporting surface with their abutting edges merging in uniform contact and continuity of the sign surface.

3. A method of forming a sign from selected letter panels of thin adhesive gelatinous material which comprises the steps of adhering a letter panel to a surface along a predetermined line, mounting a second letter panel in predetermined letter spaced relation adjacent said initial panel in overlapping relation to the adjacent margin thereof before the setting of the adhesive, Severing the overlapped margins simultaneously along an identical line of severance, removing the severed portions, and pressing the panels against the supporting surface with their abutting edges merging in uniform contact and continuity of the sign surface. f

4. A method of forming a sign from selected letter panels of thin adhesive gelatinous material which comprises the steps of moistening and adhering an initial letter panel to a surface along a predetermined line, moistening and adhering a second letter panel adjacent said initial panel in overlapping relation to the adjacent margin thereof before the setting of the adhesive, severing the overlapped margins simultaneously along an identical line of severance, removing the severed portions, and pressing the panels against the supporting surface with their abutting edges merging in uniform contact and continuity of the sign surface.

JOSEPH S. HARRISON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS