US65817A - Improvement in the construction of signs - Google Patents

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gleiten ,gisten @anni @fitta l GEORGE H. KITCHEN, QF NEW YORK, N. VY.

' Letters Patent No. 65,817, dated June 18, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIGNS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

v Re it known that I, GEORGE `H. KITCHEN, of the city and State of New York, have invented and made a certain new and useful Improvement in Prismatic Illuminators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the said invention, reference being had to the annexed'drawing, nia-king part of this specification, xvlierein- Figure l is an elevation of one end of a prisniatic illuminator, representing the letter I or number 1; and

Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the same at line xx, iig. l.

Similar letters denote the saine parts. i

Prismatic illuminators have heretofore been made in the ferm of globes and figures made of a series of prisms attached together upon a frame of wire. This construction is very costly, because the whole illuminator is made of prisms, and besides this there is no definite outline to the illuminator; hence the same could only be employed as a sign containing letters or numbers, in consequence of differences in the colors of the glass prisms. u

These in the day-time formed very indistinct signs except by transmitted light, and it is seldom that a sign can he placed so that the light shines through it to the observer; and at night, said signs, when illuminated by a. gas or other light contained within, are not bold ordistinct, and cannot be clearly discerned at a distance, on account of the blending of the reflected prismatie rays of light.

The nature of my` said invention lconsists in an illuminator formed of an opaque easing, having openings through it of the size and shape of the figure, letter, or other character to be represented, said openings being filled with a series of glass prisms connected together and sustained in their places, and the illuminator fitted so that light may be employed behind it to illuminate the same at night. By this construction the casing forms a contrast to fthe prisms, so that the sign can be easily seen by daylight, and at night the light only passes through the openings; hence the illuminated prisms make a handsome and attractive sign or emblem that can be seen with distinctnessA Besides this there are not as many prisms required as heretofore, and hence the oost-is lessened.

In the drawing, a represents the casing, adapted to enclose a space into whieh any suitable light is to be introduced at night, and in the drawing I have shown at 6 a gas pipe and burner. In the casing a form an opening or openings, c, of the desired size and shape, and I apply the glass prisms dal at said openings, and sustain them in ranges by ivires or otherwise. The casinga may be made of Wood, metal, o r other material that is opaque. This prismatic illuminator is a new and useful article of manufacture.

What I ela-im, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is A prismatic illuminator formed of an opaque case with openings, to whichprisms nre applied, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. i

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this sixth day of December, A. D. 1866.

GEO. H. KITCHEN. Witnesses:

CnAs. H. SMITH, GEO.` D. WALKER.

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