US965544A - Sign. - Google Patents

Description

J. G. SMITH.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED I'BB.10, 1908.

965,544. Patented July 26,1910.

l/vitweoogo v v uuemfo'o v Jr/ww JAY 0. SMITH,

351 G 5km" @1 1 JAY 0. SMITH, or MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR '10 AMERICANSIGN ooMPANY, or

. KALAMAzoo, MIoI-IIeAN, n- CORPORATION. I

Specification of Letters Patent. I

sIeN.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to improvements in s1 ns.

lhe object of this invention is to provide in a sign in which the sign characters are formed by lenses, an improved means for securing the lenses in position in a sheet metal sign face.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claim.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which 4., extending from-the to from the lowest points 0 edges of these slits are bent or deflected in Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a structure embodying the features "of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof, taken on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the arrangement of one of the lenses in the lens or face plate of the sign. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective of the lens plate showing one of the lens openings. Fig. 5

is a detail horizontal section, taken on a.

line corresponding to line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a casing 1 preferably consisting of frame pieces 14, on which the side walls of the casing are secured. These side walls are preferably formed of sheet metal, as illustrated, thin sheet steel being preferred. The front or face Wall 2 of the casing is provided with a plurality of openings 3, which are grouped to form the characters or follow the outline of the characters or symbols of the si n.

The face plate. or wall 2 also has slits, as enings, preferably the openlngs. The

. its illumination,

opposite directions to form spring thread engaging members 5 and 6. A plurality of lenses are provided, each haying or comprising a head 8, the outer surface of which is preferably convex, the inner surface 10 being flat. .From this flat surface projects a threaded shank 9. The inner end of the threaded portion is preferably concave, as shown at 11 in Fig. 3. These lenses are screwed into the openings 3 tightly so that the inner flat face or shoulder 10 bears against the outer face of the face plate or wall 2, putting stress or tension on the thread-engaging members 5' and 6 for locking the lenses in place, and also as the lenses are thus screwed home, the openings 3 are sealedthus preventing the entranceof moisture into the casing, which is particularly injurious where electric lamps are used as a lighting means, menti of electric inspection in most cities that signs using electric lamps must be moisture proof. This I secure in a very simple and effective manner.

The illuminating means preferably consists of a plurality of electric incandescent lamps, the sockets 13 of'which are secured to the top and bottom rear frame pieces 14, the bulbs 12 being arranged in the sockets in the usual, or any desired manner. These lamps are arranged outside of the outer lenses of the sign characters, so that the light is .evenly distributed within the casing and to 'all the lenses,that is, none of the lamps are located. directly at the rear of the lenses in alinement therewith, but are without the line of the outer lenses so that the light passing through the lenses is largely reflected light and evenly distributed. By this arrangement, should one or more of the lamps become extinguished, the general appearance of the sign is not materially affected, because no particular character of the sign depends upon a particular lamp for the lenses being illuminate by illuminating the entire interior of the casing, and, as stated, from points outside of thelifidf dfiter lenses.

The lamps can be connected by any suitable system of wiring, as 15, which is here shown in conventional form only.

In practice, the walls of the,casin g are preferably of suitable reflecting material, or coated therewith,'to secure the best results it being a common requirelight through the lenses,

lightthrough the lenses.

from'the lam ps and to efiectively refiectthe By'mountin the lenses inthe thin. h t metal front wa ,as described, they are secured without the neces- 'sity of separate fastenings1 and with a' mlmmum of obstruction to the passage of use, each of thelenses has the jappearance of an electric light and acomparaappearance of the sign is not seriously .af-

fected. It is obvious that the lenses might be colored, as desired. If desired, the face plate' 2 of the sign can bemade detac'hable so that the sign may-be changed by pr0vidv ing anew face plate with, the desired characters formed thereon by'means of the lenses.

Having thus described my invention, what ters Patent is A' sign comprising a face plate of sheet metal containing a circular opening, having a' slit at one sidethereof, and a lensprovided with a shoulder arranged to contact with said plate and a-shank having a com plete screw-thread, the thread being adapted to enter said slit and engage the edges of said opening throughout the circumference thereof, the thread andshoulder coacting to put stress on the metalIto-practically, close the slit and seal the lens ill-place.

* JAY 0. SMITH.

IWitnesses (1E. Tumor, SOLON C. KEM N;

-I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-

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