US1802757A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1931. R. M. CRAIG DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Jan. '7, 1929 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD M. CRAIG, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

, THOMASW. MENEFEE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS DISPLAY APPARATUS Original application filed December 29, 1925, Serial No. 1929. Serial This invention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to an illuminated advertising medium and constitutesa division from my Patent Number 1,698,224, lssu'ed January 8, 1929.

One object of the invention is to provide an illuminated advertising medium adapted to be applied to a show window of a store and which, when in operation, will be novel in appearance and attract attention to the store.

Another object of the invention is to provide a store sign which, when in operation, will call particular attention to an article which it is desired to conspicuously advertise.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for directing attention to the entrance to the store Where the merchandise advertised may be purchased.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the manner in which the principles of the invention may be adapted to a window display for advertising purposes, and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric flashing system employed in connection with the arrangement shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 of the drawing illustrates the embodiment of the invention in an advertising display and in this figure the numeral 112 indicates in general a store front and the numeral 113 indicates the plate glass window of the front which, in this instance, is red in color and substantially opaque except for a portion of its area, indicated by the numeral 114, which is rendered substantially transparent under conditions of illumination to be presently explained. Red light bulbs 115 and blue light bulbs 116 are arranged in a row along the upper side of the pane 113, and any suitable worded or other advertising matter, indicated by the numeral 117, is represented upon the outer face of the pane 113 in any suitable pigment of a distinctive color, such, for example, as blue and contrasting with the color of the pane. Arranged against the inner side of the pane 113 and supported in any suitable manner is a casing 118 in which 78,249. Divided and-this application vfiled. January 7, No. 330,938.

articles of merchandise, indicated by the numeral 119, may be arranged in any desired attractive manner. Arranged within the casing 118 are a number of white light bulbs, indicated by the numeral 120, and it will be evident at this point that when the bulbs are lighted the interior of the casing will be flooded with white light rays thus rendering the articles of merchandise 119 Visible through the area portion 114 of the pane 113, the said articles of merchandise at other times being invisible due to the opaque character of the pane. It will be observed by reference to Figure 1 that the casing 118 is open at its front and the open front of the'casing is disposed directly against the inner side of the .pane 113. Upon the sidewalk in front of the store front, there is painted a display area 121 which is preferably red in color and within the bounds of this area there is painted, for example, an arrow 122 which is white in color and which is, for example, pointed toward the entrance to the store or other establishment. I

Figure 2 of the drawing illustrates a diagram of the electric circuit for automatically flashing the several groups of lights, and in this figure the numeral 123 indicates in general a flasherwhich may be of the simple type heretofore described and preferably comprises a disc 124 of insulating material having contact strips 125 and 126 upon its face concentric to the shaft of the flasher which is indicated by the numeral 27 and which carries a contact arm 128 designed, in the rotation of the shaft, to ride over the contact strips 125 and 126. The numeral 129 indicates a source of current supply and the numeral'130 indicates a conductor wire which is led from one side of the source of supply to the shaft 127. A conductor wire 131 is led from the other side of the source of current supply 129 and is electrically connected with one terminal of eachof the sockets for all of the bulbs 115, 116 and 120. A conductor wire 132 .isled from .the contact strip 125 and connected to the other terminal of the socket for each blue electric light bulb 116. A conductor Wire 133 is led the conta t Strip 126 and is connected to the other terminal of each socket for each red light bulb 115 and likewise to the other terminal of each socket for the while light bulbs 120.

In the operation of the flasher, the contact arm 128 moves over the contact strip 125, closing the circuit through all of the blue light bulbs 116 and as a consequence, the entire surface of the pane 113 is flooded with blue light, rendering the pane entirely opaque and displaying the matter 117 substantially white against the substantially black background afforded by the pane 113. At this time the articles of merchandise arranged within" the casing 118 will, of course, be hidden from view, due to the opaque character of the said pane 1123; Likewise, at this time, the area 121 will appear dark in color, due to the flooding of this area, which is red, with the complementary blue light rays, and the arrow 122 will stand out against the Very dark back ground thus provided. As the contact arm 128 passes from the contact strip 125 onto the contact strip 126, the blue lights are extinguished and the red lights 115 and white lights 120 are simultaneously lighted. Under this illumination the matter 117 will appear substantially black against a light background, the display area 121- together with the arrow 122 will be obliterated, and the interior of the casing 118 will be illuminated and rendered visible so that the articles of merchandise arranged within the casing will be presented to the View of passersby. Thus, in the last described cycle of operation of the display apparatus, the articles of merchandise are displayed to view as well as the ad vertising matter 117 and at the next moment the display surface 121 is rendered visibleas is also the arrow 122 which points in the direction of the entrance to the store.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: a

1. In display apparatus, a display surface of light rays transmitting material of a distinctive color bearing matter to'be displayed" represented in a pigment color in contrast with the color of the said display surface, a closed display casing in rear of said surface having an open side presented thereto, a display surface spaced from and in advance of the first-mentioned surface and having a background of a color substantially corresponding to the color of the first-mentioned surface and bearing matter to be displayed represented in a color in contrast thereto, and means for successively displaying said surfaces under light rays of a special color substantially corresponding to the pigment color in which the first-mentioned display matter 7 is represented and under light rays of a spectral color substantially corresponding to the color of the first-mentioned surface and simultaneously illuminating the interior of the casing whereby to display thecontents of said thefirst-mentioned display matter is representedyand under light rays of a-"spctral' color substantially corresponding to the color of the display surface, and simultaneously illuminating the interior of the casing whereby the contents of said casing is displayed by gransmitted light through the display surace.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RICHARD M. CRAIG. [L. s.]

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