US2106891A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1938. H HAMMER 2,106,891

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Aug. 9, 1957 Patented Feb. 1, 1938 unire .si-.raras .PATENT OFFICE Price Brothers, Inc., tion of Illinois Application August 9',

l l Claim.

This invention relates to signs generally, and more particularly to an illuminated sign, and has for its main object the provision of a sign structure, including a hollow shell open at its forward end only, which forward end is partially closed by an opaque member, the outer edge of which is spaced from the edge of the opening to produce a narrow passage, whereby when the hollow shell is illuminated, the effect of the light passing through said passage will be that of a luminescent tube of the type containing illuminated neon gas or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign structure of the character described, including a light source disposed within a hollow member, and means for shielding said light source within said hollow member so that only a narrow portion of the interior of the hollow member may be Viewed, with the result that said narrow portion will present the effect of a luminescent tube when the interior of the hollow member is illuminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sign structure of the character described which will be simple in manufacture and assembly, which may be constructed along lines convenient for low cost manufacture, and which will at the same time be highly efficient for carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when Considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawing in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing:

Chicago, Ill., a corpora- 1937, Serial No. 158,089

(Cl. li0--130) Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a sign structure embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by characters of reference, the numeral I0 designates a hollow base which may be formed of any suitable material, such as cast metal or the like and which may assume any size or shape. As the embodiment illustrated is to be used as a counter sign, the same may be provided with the rubber feet I I so as to avoid injury to the surface upon which the sign may be disposed.

Mounted within the base I0 is an electric light socket I2 of conventional construction, to which is connected the conducting cords I3 leading to a source of electric current. The socket I2 is adapted to receive a suitable light bulb I4 for producing the desired illumination for the sign structure.

Secured to the base I0 is a hollow member I5 which may be formed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like, said member being closed on all sides except at the forward end thereof, and surrounds the light bulb I4 so that when a circuit is closed to the latter, the interior of the hollow member I5 will be illuminated. The interior surface of the member I5 is provided with a suitable coating of paint or the like to give to the same a relatively dull finish, and also a smooth and uniform surface.

The forward open end of the member I5 has arranged therein an opaque plate member I5 of suitable material such as glass or the like, having the inner surface thereof provided with a suitable coating to render the same opaque, said member being of such a size and shape as to partially close the forward open end of the member I5, except for a narrow band or passage I8, which bandY is formed between the outer edge of the plate member I6 and the edge of the forward open end of the member I5.

In the embodiment illustrated, said opaque plate member is supported on the base I0 by means of a channel Il, which is secured to the base I0, and within which the bottom edge of the plate member I6 is adapted to be received.

From the above, it will be apparent that when the light bulb I4 is connected to a source of current, it will illuminate the interior of the member I5 and the opaque plate member I6 will be effective for blocking out all of said illuminated interior, except for the narrow band i8, which band will present the appearance of a luminous tube of light, thereby giving to the sign a highly attractive appearance.

, If desired, the bulb I4 may have disposed thereover a colored glass shield 20 with the result that the band of light produced when the sign structure is illuminated will be that of the color of the shield 20. Thus, by varying the color of the shield 20, diierent color effects may be produced in the sign structure.

It will also be noted that the outer marginal edge of the member l5 may be raised as shown at I9 for enhancing the luminous tube eiect of the band of light. This, however, is not absolutely necessary, as in practice it has been found that the desired effect is produced without the raised portion I9.

From the above, it will be noted that I have produced a sign structure which is very simple in construction and assembly, containing only a few parts, but which willpresent in operation a highly attractive appearance. It also is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific shape or size of the sign structure illustrated, as the desired effect may be produced by an illuminated hollow member of any size or shape having a front opening which is closed by an opaque plate member, except for a narrow band or passage through which the interior of the hollow member may be viewed.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should bereadily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that While perferred embodiments of the invention, have been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation Within the purview of my invention as dened in the appended claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A luminous sign of the character described, comprising a base, a source of illumination mounted on said base, a hollow shell surrounding said source of illumination and having a dull 1inish provided on the inner surface thereof, said shell being open at its forward end, and an opaque plate member for partially closing said open end, said opaque member being supported at its bottom edge on the base and having its outer edge spaced from the edge of said shell to produce a narrow space whereby, whenthe interior of said shell is illuminated, the band of light issuing through said space will present the effect of a luminescent tube.

HYMAN C. HAMMER.

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