US559516A

US559516A - Car-sign

Info

Publication number: US559516A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1913-05-05

Description

(No Model.)

J.J.DOLAN.

GAR SIGN.

Patented May 5, 1896.

ANnRLW BERMMM. PHOTO UTMOYWA5H |NGTON.D C

NiTnn I JOHN J. DOLAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,516, dated May 5, 1896. Application filed November 4, 1895. Serial No. 567,784. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DOLAN, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Signs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is a rotatable illuminated car or other sign, in which opposed translucent faces of the sign-box may each have a sign thereon illuminated from behind in such a manner that the rear face will transmit the light so as to illuminate the front sign without blurring or confusing it with the sign on the rear face.

The main feature of my invention consists in a rotatable sign comprising a box or casing having two opposed faces, each consisting of translucent material, on which a sign is printed, the case being rotatable to bring either one of the two faces to the front, and a lamp in the rear of the casing at such a distance that the rays will be transmitted through the rear face and illuminate the front face without casting a blurring shadow of the rear sign on the front face.

Another feature of my invention consists in making the trunnions and their bearings angular in cross-section to prevent the sign from wabbling when set.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the dashboard of the streetcar with my improved car-sign attached. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the casing and the lamp. Fig. 4 is an enlarged end View of the same parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. l.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, I have represented the device as connected with the dashboard A of a street-car, although it may be attached to any portion of the car desiredas,' for instance, to the bonnet. A casing B has two opposing faces 19 b, of ground glass or other translucent material, on each of which is printed or otherwise marked the appropriate sign. The casing may be fitted to receive these panels as slides which can be readily removed and replaced by others, or they may be permanently secured therein. It is preferable, though not essential, that when the slides are in place they should form There should, however, be a a close box.

space between the translucent panels. The casing is supported by trunnions 11 projecting from the ends and mounted in brackets 61. The trunnions b are angular in cross-section, and the brackets 01 are formed with an eye cl, having an angular bend d at the bottom to receive the angular edge of the trunnions to keep the case in an upright position and prevent wabblin g when the sign is turned to expose either of its faces. These brackets are attached directly to the dasher or other part of the car, or when the sign is at the front of the dasher the brackets are preferably fixed to a frame 01 which is attached to the dashboard.

In Fig. 2 the frame d has hooks d*, by which it is hung on the dashboard and is readily detachable. In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the frame 01 is bolted to the dashboard.

One great advantage of having the frame oZ detachable is that it can be detached for the purpose of turning the sign, and it is not necessary in such case to leave as much clearance-space between the dashboard and the sign as would be necessary if the frame were permanently fixed to the dashboard.

At a short distance in the rear of the signbox is a lamp E, preferably inclosed in a box E, with a reflector E, which throws the rays of light directly against the rear translucent face of the box. The light is transmitted through the rear face and illuminates the exposed face sufficiently to render the sign thereon legible in the night. The space between the two translucent sign-faces permits the light to diffuse sufficiently to prevent any appreciable shadow of the lettering on the rear face being cast on the front face to blur the exposed sign. The box E, containing the lamp, is set in an opening in the dashboard behind the sign-box.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A rotatable car or other sign consisting of a box having two opposed sign-faces of translucent material with space between said faces, and mounted in bearings which permit either sign-face to be rotated into an exposed position, in combination with a lamp behind said box whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed sign-face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

IOO

2. A rotatable car or other sign consisting of a box having opposed sign-faces of translucent material with a space between said faces, angular-sided trunnions on said box, brackets having angular-sided bearings for said trunnions which hold the box with either sign-face exposed, and a frame to which said brackets are secured, in combination with a lamp behind said box whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed sign-face.

3. In combination with a car, a rotatable car-sign consisting of a box having opposed sign-faces with intervening space, angularsided trunnions on said box, brackets having angular-sided bearings for said trunnions which hold the box with either sign-face exposed, a frame to which said brackets are secured, a lamp-holder set in the framework of the car behind said sign-box, and a lamp in said holder whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed sign-face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with a dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-sign consisting of a box havin g opposed sign-faces of translucent material with an intervening space, said box being mounted in bearings which permit rotation of the box to expose either sign-face, brackets supporting said box in front of the dashboard, a lamp-holder set in the dashboard back of the sign-box, and a lamp in said holder Whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed signface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-sign consisting of a box having opposed sign-faces of translucent material with an intervening space, angularsided trunnions on said box, brackets having angular-sided bearings for said trunnions which hold the box with either sign-face exposed, a frame to which said brackets are attached, a lamp-holder set in the dashboard back of the sign, and a lamp in said holder Whose rays are transmitted through the rear sign-face and illuminate the exposed signface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the dashboard of a car, a rotatable car-sign consisting of a box having opposed sign-faces, trunnions on said box, brackets having bearings for said trunnions, a frame to which said brackets are secured, and means for detachably securing said frame to the dashboard, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 31st day of October, A. D. 1895.

JOHN J. DOLAN. IVitnesses:

WM. A. COPELAND, A. I. CRAWFORD.