US2688813A

US2688813A - Animated illuminated sign

Info

Publication number: US2688813A
Application number: US117225A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Hart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-09-22
Filing date: 1949-09-22
Publication date: 1954-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1971-09-14

Description

Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HART 2,688,813

ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Sept. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l /7 10 ls l I a M 3 a0 /9 s K' la: 4 laavezzior Jawaes Hlj u P 14, 1954 .1. H. HART ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1949 \\\\\\\\\8 a 7 I fla w fl w w 7 Jwraes II. Hana, by Han/val 5 F uitioflz'aeys Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HART ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 22, 1949 VM N Patented Sept. 14, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED ILLUMINATED SIGN James H. Hart, Andover, Mass.

Application September 22, 1949, Serial No. 117,225

3 Claims.

This invention relates to illuminated signs suit able for advertising or other similar purposes, and especially to an illuminated sign having means to vary or modify the character of the light by which the display member of the sign is illuminated thereby to give the display member a varied illuminated effect.

One object of my present invention is to provide an illuminated sign of this character which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for varying or changing the color of the light which is projected onto the display member, which means does not in any way interfere with the removal or replacement of the electric light bulbs.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated sign of novel construction in which the changing of the color or character of the light by which the display member is illuminated is accomplished through the medium of a reciprocating translucent or transparent screen placed between the display member and the source of illumination, which screen may be divided into sections, each having a distinctive color, the reciprocating movement of the screen serving to place different sections thereof between the source of illumination and the display member, with the result that the color of the light by which the display member is illuminated is determined by the particular section of the screen through which the light is projected.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of an illuminated sign embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a different embodiment of the invention, said figure being taken on the line l-t, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the display member illuminated from two light sources.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view showing still a different embodiment of the invention, said figure being a section on the line 7-1, Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing still a different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing a different embodiment of the invention in which the display member is composed of two parts, one of which carries the message and the other of which serves as means for reflecting the varying colored light onto the message carrying part.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line li-l I, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view illustrating a device similar to that shown in Figs. 10 and 11 except that the message carrying part of the display member is made of a plurality of separate units.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line i3l3, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention in which the message carrying part of the display member is illuminated by both edge lighting and reflected light.

Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the display member is a laminated member, each lamination of which carries a part of the message.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line Iii-l6, Fig. 15.

In the devices shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, 14, 15 and 16 of the drawings the display member, which is translucent, or transparent, or may be partially opaque, is lighted by means of light rays directed into the edge thereof, while in the devices shown in Figs. 4 to 8 and 10 to 13, the display member is illuminated by light rays projected against the side face thereof.

Referring first to the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the display member which is to be illuminated is indicated at l and is in the form of a sheet or plate of transparent or translucent material, although said member might be composed of a series of individual units 49 as shown in Fig. 12. Such display member is mounted on a housing 2 within which is located a source of illumination in the form of an electric light bulb 3, said bulb having connected thereto a suitable electric cord 4 which terminates in a plug terminal 5 by which the device can be plugged into any outlet of an electric light wiring system.

The display member I is mounted on the housing 2 in such a way that only the edge or edges thereof nearest to the housing is exposed to the light projected from the bulb 3. For this purpose the housing 2 has a slot 6 in the face thereof nearest to the display member into which slot the nearest edge 7 of the, display member I is received.

Since the display member I is translucent or transparent, the light which is projected against the edge 7 by the bulb 3 will illuminate the entire display member from the interior.

The message ll on the display member may conveniently be provided in a known manner by rounding out or engraving the letters forming the message on the back face thereof, in which case the edge lighting will produce illuminated letters.

To obtain a varying color effect in the illuminated display member I, I have provided a lighttransmitting screen member 8 which is situated within the housing 2 and is interposed between the bulb 3 and the edge 1 of the display member I, said screen member usually extending the full length of the display member and being divided longitudinally into a plurality of narrow sections indicated at 9, l0, II and I2, each section having a distinctive color or light-transmitting characteristic. For instance, each section may have a distinctive color, or one section may be transparent, or even opaque. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the section 9 is lined to show a green color, the section II! is lined to show a red color, the section I I is lined to show a yellow color, and the section I2 is lined to show a blue color. Obviously other patterns and methods may be utilized to make the screen 8 a device for modifying the light rays that it transmits.

Means are provided for reciprocating the screen member 8 back and forth in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the display member I so that at each pass of the screen in either direction, the colored sections 9, III, II and I2 will be brought successively into a position between the bulb 3 and the edge I of the display member.

While any suitable means for thus reciprocating the screen may be employed, I have shown for this purpose a runner member I3 to which the screen is secured and which is mounted for reciprocating movement in a guiding member I4 carried by the housing 2 on the interior thereof. Said runner I3 is connected by a link I5 with a crank pin I6 on a crank disk I! which is carried by a shaft I9. Said shaft is operated from a suitable motor I9, there preferably being suitable reduction gear between the motor and the shaft I8 so as to provide for giving the screen its reciprocating movement at a proper speed.

With the screen in the position shown in Fig. 3, the blue section I2 is interposed between the light bulb 3 and the lower edge I of the display member I and hence the display member will be illuminated with the blue color. As the screen advances toward the right, the yellow colored section II will be brought into position between the light 3 and the edge I of the display member and the latter will then be illuminated with a yellow light. As the screen moves still further to the right, the red section II) and then the green section 9 will be brought into position to project first red light and then green light onto the edge of the display member I thus giving the display member first a red and then a green color. By this means the color of the display member is continuously changing due to the reciprocating movement of the screen member 8.

In the sign shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 one side of the housing 2 is provided with a translucent or transparent display member 29 which is continuously illuminated directly from the bulb 3 and without the interposition of a color screen between the bulb and said display member. The sign shown in Fig. 1 therefore will show a display member 20 having a constant color and another display member I, the color of which is continuously varying.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated an embodiment of the invention in which the display member is illuminated by light rays directed against one face thereof instead of against the edge thereof as in Figs. 1 to 3. In said Figs. 4 and 5 Ia indicates a display member of translucent or transparent material which is mounted in a housing 2a and which may be made with or without an opaque area, said display member forming one side of the housing. Situated within the housing is an electric light bulb 3a, the cord 4a of which is provided at its end with aterminal plug 5a.

Also situated within the housing 2a is a partition member located between the bulb 3a and the display member Ia and having upper and lower sections 2I, 22 which are separated at their inner edges to form a slot 24, the width of the slot and the relation of the light bulb 3a thereto being such that the entire rear face of the display member will be illuminated by the bulb. The upper section 2I inclines downwardly and inwardly from the top of the display member Ia, and the lower section 22 inclines upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of said display member Ia, and the slot 24 formed between said sections is located directly in front of the electric light bulb 3a. A color screen 8a is interposed between the slot 24 and the source of illumination 3a, said color screen being constructed as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 and being comprised of a plurality of sections each having its distinctive color or light-transmitting characteristic. Such screen member 8a is shown as extending from one end of the housing 2a to the other and is designed to be reciprocated vertically, said screen being guided in its reciprocating movement by vertical guiding members 25 carried by the ends of the housing 2a. The screen member is given its vertical reciprocation by means similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, that is, the screen is connected by a link I5a to a crank pin on a crank disk I6a that is operated from a suitable motor I9a.

As the screen 8a is reciprocated vertically, the differently colored sections thereof will be brought into line with the opening 24 and therefore the color of the light by which the display member Ia is illuminated will be repeatedly changed.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification of the construction shown in Fig. 5 in which two sources of illumination are employed for illuminating the display member. In this embodiment of the invention the display member is indicated at lb. It is made of transparent or translucent material with possibly some opaque areas, and is supported in a housing member 21). The two sources of illumination are indicated at 3b. Situated within the housing member and in the rear of the display member 1 b is a partition member having two parallel slots 24?), one slot being located directly in front of each bulb 3b. The partition is shaped to present a section 2 lb extending upwardly and outwardly from the top of each slot 241) and another section 22b extending downwardly and outwardly from the bottom of each slot 24b. The portion of the display member ID which is illuminated through each opening 24b is a different portion from that illuminated through the other opening.

In this embodiment the color screen is formed in two parts 92) which are connected together to move as a unit. This two-part screen is movable vertically and is guided in its movement by vertical guiding members 25b, each part of the screen operating between one of the bulbs 31) and the corresponding slot 241).

The screen is provided with a member 26 which is connected by a link I5b with a crank disk I61) that is operated from a motor I9b, all as illustrated and described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Each part 8b of the screen is divided into sections, each of which sections has its own distinctive color or light-transmitting characteristic.

As a result the vertical reciprocating movement of the screen serves to change continuously the color or character of the light by which the display member Ib is illuminated.

The two parts 8b of the screen may be in the form of different and separated areas of a screen member 30 that is guided in the ways 251).

By using two bulbs 31) and two screen areas 81), it is possible to illuminate satisfactorily a display member having a larger vertical dimension than that shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, by having the sequence of the sections in one screen area 8b arranged differentially from those in the other screen area, it is possible to increase the variations in the illuminating effect due to the reciproc'ating movement of the screen.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a different embodiment of the invention in which the light pattern on the border of the display member only is subject to change. In said embodiment of the invention the housing is indicated at 20, and lo indicates the display member which forms one side face of the housing. Situated directly back of the display member at the top and bottom thereof is a strip 21 having both opaque and light-transmitting areas. While such areas may be provided for in various ways, the strip herein shown is made of opaque material having apertures 28 therein, the latter constituting the lighttransmitting areas. Situated directly behind each strip Zl is a narrow color screen element 80 that is divided vertically or transversely into sections 29, each section having a distinctive color. The two color screen members 30 are connected together by a bridge member 30 and each is arranged to be moved horizontally or lengthwise of the strips 21. The housing 20 is provided with guides 250 for guiding the screen members 80 in their reciprocating movement.

The two screen members are given their reciprocating movement through the medium of a motor l9c which is connected to the bridge piece 30 by means of a crank and link construction I50 and I60 as in Figs. 2 and 3.

With this construction the changing light pattern will occur at the top and bottom or sides of the display member lo, the main body of the display member being constantly illuminated direct- 1y from the light bulb 30. I

In Figure 9 I have shown still a different embodiment of the invention wherein the color screen has a rocking instead of a right line movement, said Fig. 9 also showing a construction by which the display member is illuminated through its bottom edge.

In the device of Fig. 9 the housing is shown at M and the display member at Id, the latter being mounted in a slot in the top of the housing and having its lower edge 1d exposed through the housing.

The color screen 8d is divided into narrow sections parallel to each other and is mounted on a rocking member 33 which is pivoted in the housing at 34. Said rocking member is connected by a link l5d to a crank pin l6d on a crank disk l'ld which is operated from a suitable motor I911.

The electric light bulb by which the display member is illuminated is indicated at 301. In this embodiment the screen 8d is curved on an are having the pivotal point 34 as its center and the lengthwise dimension of the differently colored sections of the screen 811 extend parallel to the axis of rocking motion of said screen.

From the above it will be understood that as the crank disc "at is turned by the motor, the screen will be rocked about its pivot 34 and different sections thereof will thus be brought successively into position between the light bulb 3d and the lower edge lid of the display member and thereby the light by which the display member is illuminated will be constantly changing in color.

In the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the display portion of the sign is made up of two parts, a transparent or translucent member l e and an opaque light-reflecting member 44, the surface 45 of which that faces the member le being a light-reflecting surface. Both of these elements le and 44 are mounted on the upper side of a housing 2e within which is located the light source 3c. The housing 2c is provided with a slot 46 situated between the two display members le and 44 and directly opposite the light source 3e.

Situated between the light source 3e and the slot 46 is a color screen member 8e which is given a reciprocating motion by means similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 9, said color screen 86 being provided with a connecting member l5e which leads to a motor operated crank disk (not shown). In this embodiment the light from the light source 3e will be projected through the slot 46 and will be reflected by the surface 45 against the back side of the display element le thereby illuminating the latter.

The edge portion 41 of the member 44 may be curved forwardly and is spaced from the edge portion of the member is as shown at 48. This space 48 provides a narrow luminous area surrounding the member le which gives somewhat the glow effect of a border strip of neon tubing.

The reciprocating movement of the screen 8e provides a constantly changing color in the light which is projected against and reflected from the surface 45, thereby providing an illuminating sign which produces a continuously varying color effect.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the element of the display member onto which the light is refiected is in the form of individual units 40. These individual units M! are mounted on a housing 2f in the manner described with reference to Figs. 10 and 11, and situated back of said individual units is the reflecting element 44 having the forwardly curved marginal edge 41 The housing 2f is provided with a slot 46 between the two

elements

40 and 44 and situated between the light source 31 and the slot 46) is a color screen 8 constructed in the same manner as shown with respect to Figs. 1 to 6 and 11.

The individual units 40 may be either of transparent or transulcent material or may be opaque. In either case they will be set against a background formed by the reflecting surface 451 of the member 44), which reflects forwardly a light that is continuously changing in color as the screen 81 reciprocates.

In Fig. 14 there is shown an embodiment of the invention somewhat like that shown in Figs. 10 and 11 except that the display member carrying the message is illuminated both by edge illumination and by reflected light. In this embodiment lg represents a part of the display member carrying a message which is supported by a housing 29, the latter having a slot in which the lower edge lg of the member lg is received. Situated back of the member lg is the other member 44g which is preferably an opaque member and has a front reflecting surface 45g. The housing 2g is provided with a slot 46g between the members lg and 44g and situated within the housing opposite said slot is a light source 3g. 8g indicates a color screen similar to that shown in the other figures of the drawing and which is located between the light source 3gland. the slot 46g, said color screen being made upof separate sections each having its distinctive color and being reciprocated in any usual way as shown in Figs. 1 to 9.

4 In this embodiment the member lg will be illuminated partly by edge illumination, that is, by light rays projected through the edge 19 thereof,

and partly by light rays projected through the slot 46g and reflected onto the back face of said member lg by the reflecting surface 45g. With this construction the light changing effect which the member lg receives through the edge 'ig will be out of step with the light changing effect which said member lg receives by means of the light reflected from the surface 45g. In other words while light of one color is being projected by the screen through the slot 45g, light of another color will be projected onto the edge lg of ,the member lg so that when said member lg has an edge lighting elfect of one color, it will be subjected to a reflected lighting effect of another color.

In Figs. 15 to 1.6 there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the display member is a laminated member, the laminations of which are transparent or translucent. Each lamination carries a message and the messages on the laminations are so disposed that the message on one lamination is in non-registering relation with that on the other lamination.

In said Figs. 15 and 16 2h indicates a housing member carrying the display member lh which is formed of the two

laminations

49 and 50, each lamination being of translucent or transparent material.

These two laminations are set into a slot in the housing Eh so that the edges 'ih thereof are located opposite the light source 3h which is located within the housing. 8.72. indicates the reciprocating multi-colored screen which is situated between the light source th and the lower edges iii of the

laminations

49, 50, the screen 871. being reciprccated in any suitable way as by means illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9.

The message may be formed on the laminations by routing out or engraving the letters spelling the message on the back face of the lamination as shown at El and as usual in signs which are illuminated by the edge lighting method. The two laminations will preferably be of transparent material and the message 52 on the front lamination 49 is shown as being located in non-registering relation with the message 53 on the lamination fill so that the message 53 can be read through the Y front lamination.

With this construction the edge lightine of the laminations will produce illuminated letters, the front faces of the laminations, except where the letters occur, having no visible illumination. The reciprocating movement of the color screen 871. will produce a varying color effect to the illuminated letters of the messages and at any instant the color effect of the message carried by the front lamination 69 may be different irom that of the message 53 carried by the back lamination 5G. The color eifect of both laminations will be constantly changing, although at any instant one lamination may be illuminated by one color and the other lamination by a different col- While I have herein shown some embodiments of my invention, yet I wish it understood that various changes in the structure and design of the device may be made without in any way departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animated illuminated sign comprising a housing, a flat display member of light-transmitting material forming one side of the housing, a light source within the housing, a partition within the housing between the light source and the display member and provided with an elongated opening extending from one end to the other of the display member and through which the entire rear face of the display member is illuminated by the light source, a multi-colored screen of light-transmitting material situated between the light source and the partition, said screen presenting a plurality of elongated relatively narrow sections of different colors all occupying the same plane, which plane is parallel to the display member, each screen section extending parallel to said opening and from one end thereof to the other, and means to reciprocate said screen in its own plane and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the screen sections.

2. An animated illuminated sign comprising a housing, a flat display m .nber supported thereby, said display member having light-transmitting characteristics, said housing having a lightreceiving compartment, a light source in said compartment, one wall of said housing compartmerit having an elongated opening extending the full length of the display member and situated in the rear thereof, and through which the entire rear face of the display member is illuminated, a multi-colored reciprocating screen of light-transmitting material situated between the light source and said opening, and presenting a plurality of elongated, relatively narrow sections of different colors, all occupying the same plane and all extending parallel to said opening from one end thereof to the other, and means to reciprocate said screen in its own plane and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the screen sections.

3. An illuminated sign comprising a display member presenting a light-transmitting element and an opaque element having a light-reflecting surface, a housing on which said elements are supported with the opaque element situated in the rear of the light-transmitting element and having its light-reflecting surface directed toward said light-transmitting element, a light source withinthe housing, said housing having an elongated opening between the light-transmitting element and the opaque element, and through which the light-reflecting surface of the opaque element is directly illuminated by said light source, said light-transmitting element being illuminated by light reflected from said illuminated light-reflecting surface, a multi-colored reciprocating light-transmitting screen interposed between said light source and said opening, said screen presenting a plurality of elongated relatively narrow sections of different colors, all occupying the same plane and extending parallel to said opening from one end thereof to the other, and means to reciprocate said screen in its own plane and in a direction perpendicular to the length of the screen sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,866 Holdsworth Feb. 15, 1881 1,351,562 Foster Aug. 31, 1920 1,741,748 White Dec. 31, 1929 1,920,826 Wing Aug. 1, 1933 2,107,767 Rupp Feb. 8, 1938