US690649A - Electrically-illuminated sign. - Google Patents

Description

Fatemi 1an. 7, 1902.

J. H. soEHsT. ELECTBICALLY lLLUMINATEDfSI'GN.

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-sfuzgwf No. 690,649. Patented 1an. 7,1902. `J. H, GUEHST.

E LEGTRICA'LLY ILLUMINATED SIGN.

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.1. H. GnEHsT. y ELECTHIGALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.'

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f y M zwew- I Zaag/dmv- UNITED. STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN'H. GOEHST, OF CHICAGO', ILLINOIS ELECTRlCALLY-ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,649, dated January 7, 1902.

l Application iiled March Z1, 1901. Serial No. 52,145. (No model.)

- To cr/ZZ whom it may concer-71,:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Gonnsr, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically- Illuminated Signs; and I do hereby declare *that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electrically-illuminated signs.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a sign which embraces the main features of the invention.` Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinal section of a portion of the socket-inclosure. Fig. 4 is a View of a portion of the frame, showing the lamps staggered and a consequently narrow socket-inclosure. Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section, partially broken away, showing an arrangement of the lamp-sockets when staggered.

Referring to Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, A

represents the main body of a sign, which may be of any preferred shape. As herein shown said body has the form of a rectangular plate and may be made of glass,-porcelain, metal, or like material, on which is painted or otherwise displayed the subjectmatter of the sign. Said main body A is inclosed bya frame B, and said frame is made tubular to receive sockets for electric lamps, by which the sign is illuminated. Said frame is shown as made of side pieces h h', adapted to be'joined at their inner and outer margins in a manner to provide a waterproof inclosure. Said side pieces v are made of thin sheet material bent or molded ally outwardly in overlapping relation, and bolts D pass through said margins to hold the side members of the frame together. overlapping margins of the side members are preferably covered by metallic weather-strips C of U form in cross-section, the bolts passing through said strips and securing the wholek together and providing a water-tight joint.

The side members are still further secured by a plurality of bolts B', which pass through the socket-inclosure from side to side, as`

shown. Within the tubular frame thus constructed'are located a plurality of socket-supports E. Each of said supports may consist of a metal strip bent to form two angularlydisposed arms e e. In such construction the shorter arm e of each support. is secured to the inner face of the perimeter-wall of one of the side members h by rivets or other suitable fastening means, and the longer arm eX- tends inwardly centrally of said inclosure and. generally parallel with the sign-body. Incandescent-lamp sockets F of any suitable or standard pattern are secured by screws f to both sides of the arm e of each support. Said sockets, asherein shown, are provided at. either side with projecting clips f', inv

which are secured the conductors G G, which extend from socket to socket in the usual manner. The sidemembers are provided opposite to said sockets with apertures b4,

through which pass the electric lamps connected with said sockets, said lamps being arranged in two similar groups, one projecting from each side of the frame. The lamps are provided with suitable packing-rings H of suitable material, which are adjusted to closely encircle the globes of the lamps at the points of contact with the edges of the side apertures, so as to form tight joints to prevent the ingress to the inclosure of water or snow.

As shown in Fig. 1, the conductors G are brought into the socket-inclosure through a suitable opening b5 at the side thereof. The frame may be conveniently supported by suitable hangers I, suspended from abracket-rod K. The latter may be made hollow or tubular and may have an outer ornamental hold low end piece lc. Conveniently the conductors G may be led from the building on which the sign is supported through said rod to the sign.

In case it is preferred to have the lamps on Said the opposite sides of the socket-inclosure staggered with relation to each other and when it is desirable to have the socket-inclosure with as little Width as possible the construction indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 may be followed. Herein the socket-supports are shown in the form ouf blocks N of suitable material, secured to the inner faces of theside pieces. Each block is fastened to one of the side pieces opposite an aperture in the other side piece, the blocks (where the staggered construction shown in Fig. 4 is employed) being alternately secured to opposite sides of the socket-inclosure. This construction admits of a socket-inclosure but slightly wider than the socket, the advantage in width gained being clearly shown by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 5, which are drawn to the same scale.

Obviously when the sign is to hang against a Wall the lamps and apertures may be omittedfrom one side of the inclosure, which may then be made with one side unperforated.

The construction herein shown provides a Water-tight inclosure for the lamp-sockets, connections, and conductors and at the same time is so made as to allow ready inspection of said parts and easy renewal of the lamps. The sign may be readily and economically constructed and is very durable, not being aeoted by climat-ic changes. It will also be observed that the sign is ireproof and moist-proof, due not only to the construc- Vtion described, but to the absence of Wood in the construction. Another advantage of the construction is its durability, and yet another advantage is its adaptability to various purposes for which signs are used by simply re moving the body A or sign proper from the frame and inserting one of a diiferent design or designation, as required, Without other- Wise disturbing or rearranging the lights, frame, or connections. It will also be manifest that the lamps do not cover the sign proper or letters, and thus this sign is as useful by day as by night.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electrically-illuminated sign comprising a central sign-body and a surrounding tubular socket-inclosing frame having internal socket-supports, and sockets mounted on the opposite sides of said supports, said frame being provided on the opposite sides thereof comprising separable side members joined at their margins, socket-supports inclosed by said side members, and sockets supported thereon, the outer margins of said side members being overlapped, and a strip of U shape in crosssection applied over said overlapping margins, said side members being provided with lamp-receiving apertures.

4. An electrically-illuminated sign comprising a tubular socket inclosure having separable sheet-metal side members made with overlapping iianges on the outer margins of said side members, fastening devices passing through said anges, socket-supports secured to one of said side members, and sockets mounted on said supports, said inclosure being provided inline with said sockets with lamp-receiving apertures.

5. An electrically-illuminated sign comprising a central sign-body and a surrounding tubular socket-supporting frame having internal socket-supports, and sockets mounted on said supports, said frame being provided on opposite sides thereof in line with the sockets, with lamp-receiving apertures through which are adapted to project in opposite directions lamps mounted in said sockets.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aftix my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses, this 16th day of March, 1901.

JOHN H. GOEHST.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, CLEMENT R. STICKNEY.

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