US915268A - Sign. - Google Patents

Description

F. E. OAYYWOOD.

SIGN. APPLICATION mun MAY18, 1908.

Patented Man-16, 1909.

IN VEN TOR wmysssssi S. Z H WH 4 0 E Y m M FREEMAN E. OAYWOOD, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed. May 18, 1908. Serial No. 433,439.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREEMAN E. CAY- WOOD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 580 Broad street, Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In signs for advertising and display purposes, of the type wherein bulls eyes or jewels of translucent or transparent material are inserted in the face of the sign, and especially where they are lighted from within, it is desirable that the jewels or bulls eyes be replaceable from the outside without the necessity of disturbing the interior of the signs. The joint between the jewel, which is necessarily of somewhat irregular contour owing to the impossibility of forming the vitreous material of which it is made to exact size and shape, and the sign body or face also must be tight to exclude moisture from the lighting means in the sign, and to prevent rattling of the parts.

This invention relates to signs of this type and more especially to means for securing the jewels or bull's-eyes in place in such manner as to be readily removed and replaced from the outside without disturbing the sign itself or getting into the interior, and for forming a close joint between the jewel and sign body without the use of a gasket, packing strip, cement or the like.

The invention consists in the matters here inafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the ap V ended claims.

Referring to the crawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a sign embodying features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in section on line :ra; of Fig. 1. view in detail in perspective of a jewel or cup with the adjacent portion of the jewel retaining plate or face of the sign in position for assembling. Fig. 4 is a view in section of the jewel and plate in assembled position, taken on or about line yy of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a hollow sign body or casing having a display side 2 of sheet metal on which character letters 3 or the like may be painted or inscribed in any suitable manner. A series of circular apertures are formed in the sheet metal wherever it is desired to illuminate the sign surface. These each have three or more radial retaining lugs t struck out from the body of the Fig. 3 is ametal and slightly inbent toward the inside or back of the slgn, and a locking finger 5 diametrically opposlte one of the lugs, that is turned in the same manner as the lugs but more acutely. A bulls eye or jewel 6 of glass or like suitable material, preferably hemispherical or cup-shaped, has a circular collar 7 with outer peripheral rounded rib 8, preferably hollow for lightness, that is adapted to be inserted through an aperture in the sign side, the rib having notches 9 which register with and allow the lugs 4 to )ass through while the tongue 5 is forced back by the rib. A part turn of the jewel crowds the lugs yieldingly into the retaining groove between the rib 8 and an annular shoulder 10 at the base of the collar, and allows the tongue 5 to snap into one of the rib notches 9, thereby locking the jewel in place. The pressure of the yielding lugs on the rounded rib forces the jewel inwardly so that its shoulder forms a close joint with the side 2. By turning the notches of the rib back into register with. the lugs the jewelmay be pulled out. By this construction, the necessity of an elastic gasket either for a tight joint or to prevent rattling, is avoided, the spring lugs and finger forcing the jewel and plate together and the thin sheet metal yieldingly accommodating itself to any slight irregularities which occur in the jewel, the material of which the latter is blown or cast precluding absolute uniformity in size and shape. The joint thus made is sufficiently tight without using cement or the like, and the jewel cannot rattle or work loose, and is readily withdrawn and replaced, if desired or necessary.

i lhat I claim as my invention is 1. A sign having a side of sheet metal provided with one or more substantially circular apertures, inwardly projecting lugs a locking finger on. the aperture margin, and a jewel of vitreous material having a circular collar adapted to engage an aperture, said collar having notches adapted to register with the lugs, and a retaining rim coacting with the lugs to crowd the jewel axially against the side when the jewel is inserted and the lugs turned out of register with the notches, the locking finger being adapted to engage a rim notch when the lugs are out of register therewith.

2. A sign having a sheet metal plate with one or more circular apertures therein, inwardly bent radial lugs integral with the plate on the margin of each aperture, a spring locking finger integral with the plate on the margin of each aperture, bent at an angle to the plate, and a jewel for each aperture having a collar adapted to closely fit the aperture, a retaining rib on the collar having notches adapted to register with the lugs, and an annular shoulder at the collar base, the lugs bein adapted to crowd the shoulder against the plate when turned out of register with the rib notches between the rib and shoulder and the finger being adapted to yieldingly engage one of the rib notches when other lugs are turned out of register therewith.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREEMAN E. CAYVJOOD' l Vitnessesz:

C. R. STICKNEY, WALTER A. GREENBURG.

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