USRE17672E - Wxexib o - Google Patents

Description

x w. o. PROUT\;I I Y May 20, 1930. I DISPLAY m Re. 17,672

Original Filed June 7, 192'? 1N VEN TOR. willis 0. Prong ATTORNEY.

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Retained May 20, 1930 UNITED STATES i yRe. 17,672

PATENT OFFICE m 0. PBOUTY, OF HEBIOSL BEACH, ear-mom DISPLAY sicn' Original .Io. 1,871,744, dated Kay 28, 1928, Serial li'o. 197,108, filed June 7, 1927. Application for reissuefiled larch 1a, 1930. Serial No. 437,255.

My invention relates to illuminated display signs of the e in which the illuminating means is a tub ar lighting element and conforms to the shape of thedesign or characters,

the latter generally being in relief or of contrasting color or both. In such signs the form of the design or characters is shown by the direct light from the tubular lighting element and also by the light incident upon and reflected from the relief or colored design of characters in front of which the tubular lighting element is mounted. It is highly desirable that signs of this character be as pleasing in appearance and as attractive by daylight as in darkness. At night the direct light from the lamps and the reflected light from the underlying design contrast so intensely with the surrounding darkness as to obscure and renderinvisible the structural details of the sign, with the result that the appearance of the brilliantly illuminated design is not im aired by any of the structural aylight, however, all of the structure of the sign is visible even with the lamps glowing, and for this reason signs'of this type are not as attractive by daylight as ordinary unilluminated signs.

. One of the objects of my invention is to make a sign of this type that will be as attraco tive by daylight as a sign especially designed I for daylight illumination or other 1llumma-.

tion from a source external to the sign itself, that is, to make a sign that will be equally attractive when self-illuminated and when ilu luminated by daylight or other light falling on it from a source outside of the sign. A further object of my invention is to provide maximum reflection of light from the raised or colored design behind the tubular lamp, to

40 make the raised or colored design of a material to which dust and foreign matter will not readily adhere and which will be water and weather-proof and in itself provide the necessary insulation for the tubular lamps. 4i Tubular neon lamps are largely used for the purpose'above mentioned. My invention is adapted for use with such neon lamps as well as with other means of illumination such astubular filament lamps or Geissler tubes, or any source of illumination that may be ar- .50 ranged in-a lineal form.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation View of a sign constructed according to my invention, the illuminating element being a tubular neon lamp. I

Figure 2 is a perspective view partly in acti'on of one of the letters forming part of the sign shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a perspective of a sign unit consisting of a base having an illuminated character thereon designed-for assemblage with' other characters to form a complete sign.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of part of one of the characters showing a modification of the means for supporting the lamp.

Figure 5 is a section-on the line 5-5 of FigureL- Fi ure 6 is a cross-section of another modified orm of letter of other character or de- '10 sign element. V a

Figure 7 is a cross-section of-anot-her modification of the character or design element.

Figure 8 is a cross-section of another form of character or design element.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, each of the letters is formed of glazed ceramic material, one ofthe letters being separately shown in Figure 2 where theceramic body of the latter is shown at land the glaze at 2. A groove 3conforming in outline to the shape of the letter and following the central line of the exposed surface of theletterserves as a seat for the neon tube 4. The tube 4: is

preferably fastened to the letter and to the underlying base 5, which may also be of ceramic material, by means of a wire holder 6 which extends over the-tube 4 and through r perforations in the letter and'base. The letother suitable means or may be integrally formed therewith. At 7 and 8 I have indicated sleeves through which the terminals of the tubularilluminating element extend to the back of the sign.

The structure shown in Figure 3 is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the single character there shown, the letter A, is constructed as a separate unit, the section of the tubular illuminating element for that letter being complete with its ter minals 9, 10 extending to the back of the section 11 of thebase which is made integral with or permanently fixed to the part forming the letter A.

The structure shown in Figures 4 and 5 differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 3 in having the tubular lighting element 4" mounted on brackets 12 which arepreferably formed as integral parts of the letter or other character: on which the lighting element is fixed. The brackets 12 project outwardly from the body of the character to space the tubularlighting element at a sufficient distance fromthe exposed surface of the character to permit the light to fall directly upon and to be reflected therefrom. With the lighting element mounted as in Figures 1 to 3 dependence is placed largely upon diffusion of the light edgewise through the glaze as well as by incidence upon the surface of the glaze is illuminate the exposed surface of the let- In Figure 6 I have shown the upper surface of the letter concave with the tubular lightmg element extending along the deepest part of the concavity, thereby premitting the rays of light from the tube to fall directly upon the exposed concave surface of the letter.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure'7', which is a cross-section of one of the letters or characters, I have. provideddifferent means for spreading the light over the entire exposed surface of the character to be illuminated. In this form 1 4 represents the ceramic body, preferably glazed, of the letter. 15, 15 are plates of glass which cover the entire exposed face of the letter except the central space 16 which forms a. recess conforming to the shape of the letter and in which the tubular lighting element 17 lies. The light from about the outer half of the circumference of thetube-will radiate directly from the tube to the eye of the observer while the remainder of the light will enter the interior 'of the glass plates 15, 15

through the edges 18, 18 and will be confined therein by total reflection, except'when incident upon the outer surfaces 1-9 of the glass plates, irregular by etching of the plates, or if desired the necessary irregular surface for the reflection of the ra s to the outside may be provided upon the inner surface of the glass.

plates or otherwise disposed as in devices ed in a relative the properties 0 face renders it possible to construct si which surfaces may be madev constructed.

In Figure 8 I character havin show the cross-section of a the lighing element mounty deep channel having outwardly projecting side walls 20. In the larger part of the light falls u on and is reflected from the base 21 and si e walls. 20

of the ceramic character thus increasing the brilliancy of the ceramic character relative to that of the direct light from the tube.

Signs constructed according to my invention possess man advantages growing out of the ceramic material which is preferably used in their construction. Glass also possesses these properties in a high degree but does not lend itself so readily to the processes of manufacture and to the construction of individual signs of special design. While in its broader aspect my invention includes the use of-glass and similar materials which are vitreous throughout or which may be prepared with a vitreous surface or outer layer I have found ceramic material to be best suited to the purpose as it is an exceptionally good insulator, is easily molded or pressed to the form desired, can be glazed and given any desired color, and by reason of its glazed surface presents a more brilliant appearance by reflected light than substances heretofore used, is water ahd weather-proof and presents a surface to which dust, soot, and foreign matter generally, does not readily adhere and from which such substances may be readily removed. Furthermore, as herein described, ceramic material can be constructed in simple this form forms for the support of the illuminating element and this, together with its glazed surns that present as pleasing an appearance y daylight as when illuminated' at night.

I claim:

1. A display sign-comprising a character in relief formed of glazed ceramic 'mater 1al, said character having brackets mtegrally formed therewith and projecting from the ,exposed face thereof, and a tubular lighting element conforming to the shape of said character' and mounted on said brackets, said lighting element lyin substantially parallel to the exposed face of said character and at a distance therefrom to permit direct radiation of light from said element to all parts of the exposed face of said character.

2. A display sign character having a glazed exposed face, a

luminous tube conforming to the shape" of I said character, said tube lying substantially parallel to the exposed face of said character and Ispaced therefrom and means for sup comprising a ceramic lie porting said tube inthe spaced relation over my hand.

a. luminous tube in spaced relation to said surface, said tube forming a continuous column of illumination when energized, the axis of the column being arallel to the surface,

-' and substantially con orming in shape to the symbol, and means for supporting said'tube in spaced relation to the surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I WILLIS OfPROUTY.

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