US2778135A - Animated sign - Google Patents

Description

ANIMATED SIGN George Arthur Strader and Ludwig Martin Eymann, Sacramento, Calif.

Application July 23, 1954, Serial No. 445,432 SClaims. (Cl. 40132) This invention relates in general to improvements in advertising signs, and particularly to a sign especially adapted-but not limitd-fofuse indoors, as in eating establishments, theater lobbies, taverns, or the like. sign, which includes advertising or display material in fluorescent paint illuminated by ultra-violet or black light, is thus more effective when used at night or at least under conditions of less than full daylight.

Themajor object of this invention is to provide an advertising sign, of the type described, which includes with a source of ultra-violet lighta pair of sign panels, both exposed for vision but relatively movable by power means so that only one at a time of said panels is exposed to and illuminated by the ultra-violet light from said source.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an advertising sign, as above, wherein the relatively movable sign panels are arranged in such manner that when illuminated in succession, which produces a very unique and attractive visual effect.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an advertising sign, for accomplishment of a result as in the preceding paragraph, wherein one of the sign panels is pivotally mounted for recurrent to and fro swinging, and in a predetermined relation to both the other sign panel and the source of ultra-violet light. The relationship is such that when said pivotally mounted sign panel is at the mounted sign panel is in an ont-of-the-way, non-illuminated position, and exposes the other sign panel for illumination from said source.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an advertising sign which, while being extremely eye appealing, is nevertheless simple in structure and easy to manufacture economically.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable advertising sign, and one which will be exceedingly eifective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangementof parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of the advertising sign.

ig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the panel at the end of the rearward stroke, and at which time said swingable sign panel alone is illuminated; the fixed sign panel being blocked from illumination.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the advertising sign is here shown in a portable embodiment, and

2,778,135 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 comprises a housing, indicated generally at 1. The housing 1 includes a top" 2, sides 3, a back 4, a bottom 5, and a front 6; the latter being formed with a relatively large size, rectangular viewing opening or window 7.

Within the housing 1, inwardly of the' viewing opening 7, there is a lower, relatively large, rectangular sign panel 8 which faces said opening; there being an upper, rectangular sign panel 9 of considerably lesser vertical extent shown, and which is lettered or'drawn in fluorescent paint; i. e., paint which glows when subjected to ultra-violet or black light.

The lower signpanel 8 is fitted, adjacent the top corners,

ing sides 3 by means of screws 11. The arms 10 are preferably notched, as at 12, with the notches opening downwardly, whereby said arms 10 are separable from the screws 11 for removal and' replacement of the sign panel 8.

With the sign panel 8 mounted as above it tends to to said rearward position by gravity.

The housing 1 is fitted on the inner face of each side 3 1n alinement with the arms 10, with horizontal bars or cleats 13 aflixed' to said sides; such cleats each being formed with a row of upwardly opening notches 14. Corand lower edges. Additionally, the inclination of the sign panel 9 is such that it is substantially parallel to the sign panel 8 when the latter gravitationally displaces to the end of its return stroke, as in Fig. 3.

The'lower or swingable sign panel 8 is recurringly power of the following mechanism: a

A base'lS is secured to the bottom 5 within the housing 1 substantially centrally of its ends and some distance from the front 6-. A vertical axis, electric motor 16, including a reduction gear unit 17 thereon, is fixed to the base 15; the reduction gear unit 1 7 including an upwardly projecting, slow speed output shaft 18. An eccentric disc 19 is secured to the shaft 18, and such disc runs-at A concave reflector 20 is disposed in the lower front corner of the housing 1 and extends substantially full length thereof; such reflector lying below a horizontal or longitudinally extending, elongated, ultra-violet light discharge type of tube, indicated at 21; such tube being supported by end brackets 22 projecting forwardly from a case 23 which encloses the usual ballast, wiring, etc. for thetube21.

Electricity for energizing the motor 16 and the tube 21 is provided by an electric cord 24 fitted, at its outer end, with a plug 25 and branching, at the inner end, as at 26, with one branch leading to the motor 16 and the other branch leading into the case 23 which supports the tube 21.

The reflector 20 and the tube 21 lie in such relative position below the sign panels 8 and 9 that the following result is attained upon the recurrent cyclic motion of the panel 8: W

When said lower or swingable sign panel 8 is in its vertical position, as in Fig. 2, its lower edge portion abuts against the upper part of the,reflector,';as at 2 7, and in this position the face of panel 8 is not at all exposed to the ultra-violet light from the tubell, and hence the advertising or display material on the face of such panel is not illuminated. However, in this position of the sign panel 8 the face of the sign panel 9 is directly exposed to the ultra-violet light from the tube 21 so that the advertising or display material on the panel 9 is illuminated; i. e. glows brilliantly under the influence of the ultra-violet light from said tube. V

When the lower or swingable sign panel 8, in the course of its recurrent cyclic motion, occupies a return or rearward position, as in Fig. 2, such panel completely blocks the sign panel 9 from exposure to the ultra-violet light from the tube 21 so that such panel is not illuminated. However, at such time 'the' face of sign panel 8 is exposed to such light and the advertising or display material glows brilliantly. 5 With the sign panels 8 and 9 arranged and actuated as shown, and bearing the described predetermined relationship to the tube 21, said panels are alternately illuminated, which produces a very unique and attractive appearance. Also, the sign can be used as an effective advertising medium by providing, for example, a question on the face of the panel 9, with the answer-sponsoring some product--appearing on the face of the panel 8, or vice versa. From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as setforth herein. I

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended'claims.

It is to be recognized that the present invention is here illustrated in an embodiment which includes only a pair of sign panels, but the principle of operation may be carried into a sign having a larger number of such panels, with similar relative motion to produce successive illumination of the respective sign panels. 7

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: I r

l. A sign comprising a support, a. sourceof light on the support, one sign panel, means mounting said one sign panel on the support for motion between one position illuminated by said source of light and another position non-illuminated thereby, another sign panel, means mounting the other sign panel on the support in a position for viewing separately from said sign; panel and for illumination from said source of light, and power means operative to recurringly cause movement of said one sign panel between said positions thereof; the other sign panel 4 i being disposed relative to said source of light'and said one side panel such that the latter, when in said illuminated position only, blocks illumination of said other sign panel from said source.

2. A sign, as in claim 1, in which both of said sign panels are provided on a viewing face thereof with advertising or display material in fluorescent paint; and in which said source emits ultra-violet light.

3. A sign comprising a support including an upstanding front wall having a window therein, a pair of sign panels disposed rearwardly of the window and in position for separate viewing through the latter, one sign panel being below and ahead of the other, means pivoting said one sign panel on the support for swinging from a substantially perpendicular position to a downward and rearwardly inclined position, means mounting the other sign panel on the support in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, a source of light mounted on the support in predetermined relation to and below said sign panels, and power means on the support operative to recurringly swing said one panel from ts inclined position to a substantially perpendicular position and then permit return of said one panel to said inclined position; the source of light illuminating said one sign panel only when the latter is in said inclined position, said one sign panel when in such last named position blocking exposure of the othersign panel to said source of light whereby illumination of said other sign panel occurs only when said one sign panel is in said substantially perpendicular position.

4. A sign, as in claim 3, in which said power means includes an electric motor and reduction gear box unit on the support rearwardly of said one sign panel,'said unit including a perpendicular, slow-speed output shaft, and an eccentric disc on the shaft, the disc bearing at its periphery on the baclcot said one sign panel.

5. A sign comprising a housing including a bottom, sides, and a front, the latter having a viewing window therein; a pair of sign panels disposed in the housing rearwardly of the window and in position for separate viewing through the latter from in front of said housing, one sign panel being below and ahead of the other, rigid arms projecting rearwardly from the upper corner portions of said one sign panel, means pivoting the arms to the sides of the housing rearwardly of said one sign panel whereby the latter tends to gravitationally swing to a downwardly and inwardly inclined position from a' substantially perpendicular position adjacent the window, means supporting the other sign panel from the'sides of the housing at a downward and inward incline, a light source mounted in the housing adjacent the bottom thereof and in predetermined relation to and below said side panels; said relation being such that said onesign panel is illuminated by said source only when in said inclined position and then blocking the other sign panel against exposure to light from said source, and said other sign panel thus being illuminated from said source only when said one sign panel is in such substantially perpendicular position; and power means arranged in association with said one panel operative to recurringly cause the same to swing between said inclined position and substantially perpendicular position and then permit of gravitational return to said inclined position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,686 Marshall Feb; 26, 1901 764,510 Wiley JulyS, 1904 2,184,721 Mcllvanie Dec. 26, 1939 Musaphia Apr. 9,1940

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