US966538A - Illuminated sign. - Google Patents

Description

D. '1'. FISHER. ILLUMINATBD SIGN.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 1, 1909.

966,538, Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. DUDLEY T. FISHER, or COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Application filed November 1, 1909. Serial No. 525,661.

in which a plurality of mirrors are so disposed as to. form the characters of a sign and are so adjusted as to reflect the light from a conveniently placed illuminant in a common beam; means being provided to simultaneously oscillate said mirrors causing an apparent alternate flashing and extinc tion of the reflected light. I attain these objects by the mechanism hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figurejl represents such a sign in posi-- tion on the front of a building; Fig.2 is

an enlarged view of such a sign showing one method of oscillating the mirrors; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing one method of irdjlpsting the angles of the mirrors to the Referring to the drawings. A'supporting frame (1) has perforations (3) and (3) in the top and bottom members through which pass cone pointed set screws (4:) and (5) with lock nuts (6) and (7) by which said screws may be adjusted and secured. Positioned within the frame (1) are vertical, parallel bars (8) having sockets (9) and (10) which engage the points of the screws 1) and (5) giving a pivotal support upon which said bars may be rotated. Attached to bars v(8) are crank arms (11) secured thereto by screws 12) and 13) extending through wings (14 and (15 thereby providing for variation of the angle formed between the face of the bar (8) and crank arm Secured to the face of the bars (8) are mirrors (16) havin horizontal bearings (17 on which, by afjustment of the attachment screws (18) and (19) the mirrors may be rocked, varying their angles with the face of the bar (8). Convementl located so as to illuminate the face 0 the sign but not to obstruct a full view of it, is a lamp ('20), preferably an electric arc, having a reflector (21) so disposed as to present a broad surface of light toward the sign, and to screen the light in the direction of the beholder. Attached to the frame (1) is. a

pivot (22) on which hangs a pendulum 23 having a pivot (24:) and connecting rod engaging with all of the crank arms (11).

The operation isas followsLThe mirrors (16') being so spaced on the bars (8) as to form the characters of the sign; the "crank arms (11) are adjusted by the screws (12) and "(13) to bring the bars into such position that the mirrors on the several bars sha-ll reflect the light from the lamp (20) in parallel vertical planes. The individual mirrors (16) are then adjusted by the screws (18) and (19) so that the reflected beams from all the mirrors on each bar shall be parallel. With the mirrors thus adjusted the, light will be simultaneously visible in all the mirrors, giving the appearance of a large number of lights arranged to form the characters of the sign. As the reflector (21) presents a broad surface of, light the reflection may be seen from points throughout a comparatively wide angle.

The vibration of the pendulum (23) and connecting 'rod (25) causes the crank arms (11) .and bars (8) connected therewith to oscillate in' unison, causing the, reflected beams to'swing back and forth across the field of vision, thus giving a flashing appearance to the sign.

It is apparent that other methods of causing the oscillation of the bars (8) may be used, that described being one which under some circumstances is convenient, but any motive power may be applied to the .connecting rod. that will accomplish the same result.

'I have set forth and illustrated details of attachment of the mirrors to the bars and means for their adjustment, but do not confine myself to such details, as numerous other methods within the scope'of the ap' pended claims will present themselves for .accomplishing the same result.

tached to said bars arranged to form characters, a lamp so located that its light will be reflected by said mirrors and means for adjusting the angle (of the mirrors with relation to the light from said lamp, substantially as 'set forth.

2. A sign having characters formed of a plurality of mirrors, an illuminant furnishing light reflected by said mirrors, means for adjusting said mirrors relative .to said illuminant, and means for oscillating said mirrors in uinson, substantially as set forth.

3. A supporting frame, adjustable pivots disposed upon said frame, parallel bars having sockets adapted to engage with said 'pivots, crank arms attached to said bars, means for adjusting the angle of said crank arms with the faces of the bars to which said crank arms are attached, a common rod contially as set forth.

necting said crank arms with each other,

.means for actuating said rod to oscillate said bars, mirrors. attachedto said bars, a light reflected by said mirrors and means for adjusting the angle of said mirrors to said light, substantially as set forth.

4. In a sign of the character described, mirrors adapted to be attached to said sign to form the characters thereof, means Whereby said mirrors may be rearranged to form different characters, a light reflected by said mirrors, means for adjusting said mirrors relative to said light, and means for causing the flashing of said reflected light, substan- DUDLEY T. FISHER. Witnesses EARL HEDRIGK, E. B. DoBELL.

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