US2297851A - Illuminated display device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1942.

C. H. WYSS, JR

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR C.H.WYSS, JR.

a A ORNE% Oct. 6, 1942. c. H. WYSS, JR

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR C. H. WYSS, JR.

A ORN Patented on. a, 1942 UNITED STATES 2,297,851 ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Clement H. Wyss, Jr., Tuckahoe, N. Y., assignor to The Western Union Telegraph Company,

' New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,073

3 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices and has particular reference to illuminated signs.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a novel sign structure whereby a high degree of efliciency is obtained in the utilization of the light supplied.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a sign structure employing an elliptical reflector to direct substantially all of the available light into the space tob'e illuminated. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sign structure embodying a. novelarrangement of an elliptical reflector, a source of light 'and a light pervious panel whereby substantially all of the available light is directed intoan edge of the panel.

.The invention will be described in connection with two illustrative embodiments thereof taken' in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

of which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a sign embodyingone form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view'of the sign taken on theline 2-2.ofF'ig. l; U

Fig. 3-is a perspective view of a sign embodying the invention in another form; and

-,'Fig 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 3.

Having reference first to Figs l and 2, the invention is disclosed in a sign, the panel of which Y is illuminated substantiallyuniformly from the.

in communication .with the reflecting chamber.

- The reflecting chamber I2 is of an elongated character and has an elliptical transverse cross sectionai configuration. A tubular source of light II is supported'be'tween two brackets 15 and I6 and extends substantially the entire length of the reflecting cham'ber 12 being located at the lower focal pointer the elliptical chamber.

.The 'diifusin" chamber I 3 is formed of arear wall lI-whic is 'preferably curved as shown.

However, it is-contemplatedthat the curvature,

if any, which is given to'the rear wall of the dif-' fusing chamber-may be varied within-wide limits without departing from the. spirit of the invention. The front v.wall of the diffusing chamber is formed by alight pervious panel l8 upon which may be inscribed any. desired design or other indicia such as advertising matter designated gen.-

ferally'by'the' character of reference 19. The lower portion of the light diffusing chamber I3 55 what inefllcient use has been made ofthe av of the reflecting member.

is disposed within the light reflecting chamber I! sothat it lies slightly above the upper focus of the elliptical reflecting chamber. This lower portion of the diffusing chamber which is in communication with the reflecting chamber is closed by a light retracting member 20. In the disclosed 1 embodiment the refracting member is one having a cross sectional configuration which isplanoconcave witlathe concave surface facing into the diffusing chamber.

The entire inner surface of the light reflecting chamber I2 is conditioned to reflect the light emanating from the source l4. Since the source of lightis located at one focus of the elliptical reflecting chamber, substantially all of the light emitted therefrom is reflected and concentrated in the vicinity of the other focus of the chamber. The component'beams of light reaching this point impinge upon the lower or plane surface of the refracting member 20 at various angles but, after passing through this member, are directed upward as substantially parallel beams. The light entering the diffusing chamber l3 as described is reflected from the rear wall I'l, which is also reflectively conditioned, onto the back surface of the panel l8. The configurations of the refracting member 20 and the reflecting wall I! are such centrated at a point adjacent the upper diffusing chamber l3 and is directed into this chamber by means of the retracting member 20' in such a manner that'the light impinging upon the reflect- 'ing member I! is distributed evenly over' the panel l8.-

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 3 and ,4 to which reference will be made for the subsequent portion of the description. In

this modification of the invention an elliptically shaped reflecting member isemployed in combijnation .with. a source of light disposed at one 1 focus thereof and a transparent panel having one edgethereof disposed adjacent the other focus knownin the art as an edge lighted sign, numer- Thistype of si n is of this nature which is appreciably more efiiclent than similar signs used in the past.

An elongated reflecting chamber 2| having an elliptical transverse cross-section is supported on a base I2. A tubular source of light 23' is supported by a-pair of brackets 2i and 2| at the lower focus of the reflecting chamber 2|. An opening is formed in the top of the chamber 2| through which is inserted a transparent panel 2'. This panel projects within the chamber 2| a suflicient distance to bring its lower edge substantially at the upper focus of the reflecting chamber and is supported in this position by a plurality of hangers or brackets such as 21. The panel is provided with appropriate indicia 28, which may be applied thereto in any well known manner such as etching or sand-blasting.

The larger portion of the light which is supplied from the source 23 is concentrated at the upper focus of the reflecting chamber 2i adjacent which is disposed the lower edge of the panel 2. Thus substantially all of the light is dir'ected into the lower edge of the j panel and, in accordance with a well known principle, is reflected back and forth between the surfaces thereof until it becomes incident upon a roughened. surface formed by the characters 28. It is then allowed to escape from the panel and-thus illuminates the characters inscribed thereon.

It is believed that the foregoing description of two illustrative embodiments of the invention is sufllcient to disclose the nature of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An illuminated display device comprising, a reflecting chamber characterized by an elliptical cross section, a source of light disposed at one focus of said reflecting chamber, a diffusing chamber having a light reflective curved rear wall and communicating with ,said reflecting chamber adjacent the other focus thereof, a light refractive member disposed at the juncture of said chambers to direct a substantial portion of the light flux transmitted thereby toward the opposite end of said diffusing chamber, a light pervious panel disposed to form the front wall of said diffusing chamber, and means including said reflective rear wall and said refractive member for illuminating said panel substantially unicent panel disposed to form the front wall of said diffusing chamber, and means including said reflective rear wall and said lens for illuminating said panel substantially uniformly;

3. An illuminated display device comprising, an elongated reflecting chamber characterized by an elliptical transverse cross section, a source of light extending substantially the length of i said reflecting chamber at one focus thereof, a

diflfusing chamber extending from said reflecting chamber and having one side thereof disposed in communication with said reflecting chamber adjacent the other focus thereof, a light reflective curved member forming the rear wall of said diffusing chamber, a light pervious member forming the front wall of said diflusing chamber, a

' light refractive member forming the communicating side of said light chamber and characterized by a piano-concave transverse cross section and serving to directs substantial portion of the light flux transmitted thereby toward the opposite end oi. said diffusing chamber, and means including said reflective member and said refractive member for illuminating said panel substantially uniformly.

CLEMENT H. WYSSrJR.

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