US3045375A - Advertising device - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1962 J.R.T1PTON 3,0

ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 James R. Tlpfon 36 INVENTOR.

36 BY- is:

July 24, 1962 J. R. TIPTON ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 23, 1960 Fly. 5 k\ WW wI W 5% w /6 Fig 9 l6 James R. Tipron INVENTOR.

9 E cu flaw EM United States Patent 3,045,375 ADVERTISING DEVICE James R. Tipton, 11 Norris Ave, Maryville, Tenn. Filed June 23, 196i), Ser. No. 38,173 11 Claims. (Cl. 443-125) The present invention generally relates to an advertising device and more particularly to a sign especially for c mmercial use having changeable letters.

When signs of the type having changeable letters are provided, it is a rather difilcult problem to retain an adequate supply of certain of the letters. It is necessary to maintain more than only one of each letter in supply since these signs quite often use several words and quite often, the same letter is repeated several times in a single word or in several words. Thus, in order to assure an adequate supply of letters, it is necessary that a relatively large volume of letters be maintained in supply. Realizing this problem, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a sign construction of the type having interchangeable letters in which each letter itself involves a novel structural arrangement enabling various letters to be formed by changing components of each individual letter forming device.

Basically, the present invention involves a frame which may be designated as a letter or digit composing and lock-up frame together with standardized insertable and removable components which may be grouped to provide a given ensemble replaced, reorientated or interchanged with other components for forming a chosen letter or digit confined within and marginally bordered by the frame members thereby enabling a minimum storage of components for producing a maximum number of letters, words and phrases in an advertising sign.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an advertising device incorporating a plurality of letter frames word building units, each letter frame including a plurality of removable elements having certain char acteristics of appearance which combined to reveal any selected letter of the alphabet by orientating the various removable elements in a particular manner according to code or key indicia. Each removable element is provided with prerequisite indicia thereon and a series of code cards or other instructional charts with keying indicia may be provided for indicating the prescribed orientation of the various. elements for forming the particular letter or numeral as desired. By varying the distinguishable characteristics of the removable elements, which are in the form of generally rectangular slides or blocks, various types of letters, numerals or other indicia may be formed by the letter frames.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide an advertising device which is simple in construction, easy to use, efficient for purposes of changing the indicia formed by the structure and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an advertising device incorporating a plurality of the letter frames therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the letter frames illustrating the top thereof in open position and illustrating a group of the removable slides in position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the letter frame illustrating a letter formed by the removable elements;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view taken sub-' stantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 3&45375 Patented July 24, 1962 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the details of construction of the retaining means for the openable top of the letter frame;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 55 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the details of construction of the removable slide members and the guides therefor;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of the letter frame;

FIGURE 7 is a rear View of the letter frame;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the letter frame with another letter formed therein as seen from the rear of the letter frame;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a card indicating the orientation of the slides in the letter frame; and

FIGURE 10 is a group perspective view illustrating representive slides.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the advertising device of the present invention which includes a pair of channel shaped mounting members 12 disposed in parallel spaced relation for slidably receiving a plurality of letter frames generally designated by the numeral 14. Normally, the channels 12 would receive interchangeable letters with proper spacing therebetween and the letter frames 14 of the present invention replace the interchangeable letters and each of the letter frames is orientated in such a manner to form a letter as required.

Each letter composing and lock-up frame 14 includes a bottom member 16, two side members 18 and 20 and an openable top member 22. The bottom member 16 includes a longitudinal groove 24 receiving a projection 26 on the lower end of each of the side rails 18 and 20 and also receives therebetween a plurality of relatively thin and narrow guides or slot-like guide fingers 28 disposed in spaced parallel relation and having rounded free upper ends. Thus, the guides form what may be termed a plurality of vertically disposed slots or slideways. Also, the inner edge of the side rail 18 and also the side rail 20 is provided with a longitudinal rib 30 of the same thickness as the guides 28 thus providing a plurality of vertical slots open at the upper end thereof and in actuality, there are six vertical slots formed in each letter frame,

The top member 22 is of inverted channel shaped construction with one lower corner thereof being rounded as indicated by the numeral 32 with a pivot pin 34 extending through the rounded end and through the upwardly projecting end 36 of the side rail 18. The other end of the top member 22 engages the upwardly projecting end 36 of the side rail 20 and a fastener or bolt 38 extends through aligned apertures 40 and 42 in the top member 22 and the projection 36 respectively for retaining the top member 22 in closed position. When the top member 22 is in closed position, the upper ends of the 7 guides 28 are received within the channel 44 formed therein since the upper ends of the guides 38 terminate at substantially the same vertical point as the upper endof the projection 36.

Positioned in each of the slots formed by the guides 28 and the ribs 3% is a' plurality of slides each generally indicated by the numeral 46 and each including a generally rectangular block or plate member 48 being substantially twice as long as it is wide with each side edge thereof having a groove 50 slidably engaged with the guides 28 or one guide 28 and one rib 30 which define the slots. The end edge of each block 48 is provided with indicia 52 which may be either numerical indicia,

' alphabetical indicia or a combination of numercal and 1' it may be white or any other background color.

In each letter frame, there are five vertically superimposed horizontal rows of .-blocks and the blocks or slides 46 are arranged in such a manner that the colored areas 54 thereon will beorientated in a particular pattern to form a particular letter with other of the slides 46 being orientated to provide a background color. Thus, each of the letter frames 14 may be set up to form a particular letter.

In order to facilitate the formation of the letters, the control cards or instruction cards such as the card 56 illustrated in FIGURE 9 may be provided. 'In this construction, the card is provided with numerical indicia 58 adjacent one edge thereof indicating the horizontal row of blocks and in each row designated by the numerical indicia 58 there is provided indicia designating the blocks required for that particular row. The indicia may be either right side up or inverted as illustrated in FIGURE 9 which means that when facing the letter frame, the indicia 52 on the top of the blocks 48 should be orientated in the same manner, that is, either right side up or inverted when the slide 46 is inserted into the slots.

Letters may be formed on either the front face or on the rear face of the frame and the rear surface of the side rails 18 and 20 is provided with a vertical colored area 60 which is continuous and which is the same as the colored area 54 on the slides 46. This will enable formation of certain letters and numerals which are relatively wide such as an M, W and the like. This pwticular oriencation is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 and FIGURE 6 illustrates that when a letter is formed on the rear surface, then there is no letter formed on the front surface but FIGURE 6 does illustrate that both surfaces of the blocks are colored in various patterns as may be desired for forming various letters depending upon the instructions set forth in the instruction card.

Thus, by maintaining a suflicient number of frames to fill the length of the supporting rails 12, and by maintaining a supply of the various slides or blocks 48, the various letters of the alphabet may be formed and the various numerals may also be formed. Also, by varying the orientation of the colored surface areas, various indicia may be provided such as simulated pictures or the like, slanting letters, or any other suitable indicia. Further, the background color may be of any desired color and also the colored area may be of any desired color contrasting or easily distinguishable from the background. Normally, the background would be white or some relatively light color while the colored area would be black or some relatively dark color. As will be evident the block assembling and so-called lock-up frame holds precisely thirty slides or blocks and when the properly coded blocks have been chosen and put together or grouped in the slideways of the frame, the whole or finished character (Pin FIG. 3) takes form. Only one letter or number can be made at a time. Also the frame members themselves border each letter whether the front or back of the complete ensemble is racked in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The fact that the frame members 16, 18, 20 and 22 are of the same cross-section as the insertable and removable blocks, it will be evident that the desired flush relationship between the frame member surfaces and block surfaces is achieved.

It will be evident that these unique changeable character (letter or digit) frames are made for commercial sign use makes it advisable to stress that by having blocks (60 painted or blank surfaces as the case may be) varying in makeup in the manner shown is significant in that any single letter or single digit can be made in one color on a solid color contrasting background within one frame. Instead of having to have four separate letters such. as the E in Tennessee, to form that word it would be necessary to have one frame for each letter of the word or a total of nine frames. The next week the Word Tennessee might be changed to the word Missis sippi which contains eleven letters. By adding an additional two frames and changing the sequence of the rectangular-shaped blocks or slides within the frame the new word can be spelled out. By using these novel block assembling lock-up frames there is no need to store 4 or 5 additional recurring letters such as Es, Is, Ss, As, etc.

The entire device is relatively simple in construction and may be conveniently constructed of readily available material such as plastics, wood, metal or any other suitable material that would be long lasting and generally free of repair and maintenance.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A composite letter and complemental frame unit for use in an advertising device comprising a rectangular assembling lock-up frame having one portion thereof openable, a plurality of slots formed in the frame with the slots opening through the openable portion of the frame, a plurality of insertable, removable, interchangeable character-delineating and representing blocks slidable into the slots and for filling up the area bordered and defined by the frame, each of said blocks having blank surface areas for forming a continuous plain surface, certain of said blocks having the surface area for a portion thereof colored distinguishably from the remainder for forming indicia when the blocks are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows to present a predetermined pattern.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said blocks includes longitudinal grooves in lengthwise side edges thereof for sliding engagement with the edges of the slots.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said slots is defined by a guide, said guides having a thickness for slidable partially confined reception within the grooves in the blocks, the depth in the grooves in the blocks being substantially one-half of the Width of the guides for completely concealing the guides when all of the blocks are assembled thereon within the marginal confines of said frame.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said openable portion of the frame is substantially channel shaped in configuration, one end of the open'able portion being hingedly attached to one side of the frame and the other end thereof being detachably attached to the other side of the frame, said guides forming the slots having free ends extending into the inwardly opening channel shaped openable portion of the frame for stabilizing the blocks when inserted into the frame.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein each of said blocks is provided with distinguishable indicia on the end surface thereof.

6. A device for use in assembling any single letter of the alphabet or any single digit; a make-up frame marginally delineating and defining an opening of predetermined shape and size, said opening being spanned by spaced parallel identical slideways open at one end and closed at the other end, a plurality of insertable and removable character-forming blocks slidingly fitted in each slideway in end-to-end abutting relationship, means embodiedin said frame for retaining the blocks in place, said blocks defining vertical columns and horizontal rows, all of said blocks being of the same size and interchangeable, each block having an obverse side and a reverse side, certain of said sides being blank, and other sides having predetermined prescribed contrasting color indicia thereon.

7. The structure according to claim 6, and wherein said frame is rectangular in plan, all of said blocks being rectangular in plan.

8. A readily variable sign constructing single letter or digit unit wherein a plurality of standardized sequentially oriented put-together character-composing blocks are to be assembled and fittingly held to provide a predetermined ensemble; a block grouping andretainin-g frame comprising a rectangillar firam'e marginally delineating a sight opening to be filled and covered by the ensemble of blocks, said frame being openable and closable at oneend to permit the blocks to be manually inserted and removed in a systematically planned manner, said frame having spaced parallel open-ended slideways bridging the sight opening and permitting the blocks to be put together in vertically columnized horizontal rows, said slideWay-s defined by coplanar guide fingers having corresponding ends fixed to a bottom member of said frame, the other ends being free.

9. The structure according to claim 8 and wherein said frame comprises top, bottom and side frame-memhere, said top member having an end pivotally joined to a top end of one of the side members, the other end being separably joined to the top end of the other frame member, said top member having a lengthwise inwardly opening channel and the adjacent free ends 02E said guide fingers extending removably into said channel.

10. The structure defined in claim 9, and wherein said guide fingers are appreciably narrower than the frame members and approximately one-half the cross-sectional thickness of said frame members.

11. The structure according to claim 10 and in combination, a plurality of put-together character-composing blocks, each block corresponding in shape and size to each other block, each block being rectangular and twice as long as it is wide, the longitudinal edges being provided with open-ended lengthwise keying grooves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 484,194 Green Oct. 11, 1892 1,722,245 Gautheron July 23, 1929 2,145,946 Morrissey Feb. 7, 1939 2,448,667 Gainsley Sept. 7, 1948 2,923,551 Pope Feb. 2, 1960

Images