US1626286A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Description

April 26,1927. 1,626,286

C. G. KEENAN ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed June 21, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l w r 2 Q w L F L" QVfiwflw fi/f aweca n a r/IE/JiA I a m z r a w a a K a m w U 1 Apnl 26 9 c. G. KEENAN ILLUMINATED SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21. 1923 61 G. free/ion Patented Apr. 26,1927.

tszazss CHARLES G. KEENAN, OF OJAI, CALIFORNIA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application filed June 21,

My invention relates to illuminated novelty signs, symbols and the like, and it has for its purpose the provision of means by which the light rays emanating from a source or sources of light embodied in an illuminated sign or symbol are set into motion, whereina scintillated effect is produced without interrupting the source of light supr rit is also a purpose of my invention to proride an illui'ninated sign or symbol which includes eleetro-mechanical means for imparting vibratory or tren'ibling movement to one or :1 pit 'ality of reflectors associated with one or a plurality of electric lamps and oer that a sparkling or scintillat- "feet ot the entire sign or symbol is pro- Further, my invention embodies I, ht retracting means associated with the amps and reflectors which serves to diffuse the light rays and thus exaggerate scintillations, thereby increasing the attractiveness and advertising value of the sign or symbol.

Although I have here-in shown and will describe only three terms of illuminated signs or symbols ei'nbodying my invention it is to he understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the acconiipanyino; drawings, Fi 1 is a view showing in side elevation one term 01 illuminated sign or symbol embodying my invention, the circuits therefore being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a View taken at rightangles to Fig. 1.

Fig.

8 is a view showing in front elevation and on a reduced scale another form of illuminated sign or symbol embodying my invention.

u is a view showing in rear elevation unether lorn'i oi illuminated sign or symbol embodying my invent-ion.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 a perspective view showing one form of illuminated symbol in which the 1923. Serial No. 646,821.

mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted to be housed.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each o'l the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, my invention in its present en'ibodiment comprises a base 15 of insulating material upon which supported a pair of electromagnets 16 and 16 having a common armaJure 17, a ring formation whichis sustained for oscillatory movement by means of a spring 18 secured to a bracket 19 which latter in turn is secured to the base 15. Between the magnet 16 and supported upon the base 15 is a lamp socket 20 receiving an electric lamp 21. Surrounding the socket below the lamp is a re flector 22 composed of a circular series of concave reflecting surfaces and supported upon the armature 17 by means of arms 23 so as to be moved by the armature inclependently of the socket and lamp,

The armature 17 is provided at its under side with strips of insulating material 2 1 which are disposed directly above the poles of the ma nets 16 and 16 so as to prevent sticking o' the armature, as will be understood. The armature 17 is provided with a depending contact 25 supported upon a block of insulating material 26 fixed to the armature by means of a combining post 27. This contact 25 extends through and is adapted to engage and disengage upon the underside of a spring contact arm 28 secured to a block of insulating material 29 by means of a combining post 30. The block 29 is in turn secured to the bracket 19. The contacts 25 and 28 constitute the terminals of a circuit including the windings of the magnets 16 and 16 and a battery or the source of current B. Normally, the armature 17 is urged by means of the spring 18 in such direction that the contact engages the contact 28 so that current from the battery B is supplied to the windings of the magnets to energize the latter, With the magnets energized the armature 17 is attracted and against the action of the spring 18 so that immediately following the energization of the magnets. the circuit is disrupted by the movement of the contact 25 out of engagement with the contact 28, thereby deenergizing the magnets. As soon as the magnets become deenergized the armature is released and the spring 18 acts to return the contact 25 into jengagei'nent with the contact '28.

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thereby again completing the circuit and energizing the magnets. From this operation, it will be clear that the magnets are alternately energized and dcenergized to elfect an oscillatory movement of the armature 17 thereby imparting a vibratory movement to the reflector 22 so that when the lamp 21 is illuminated the rays of light reliected by the reflector will be projected in constantly varying directions to produce the desired scintillating elfect.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I have here shown an illuminated sign or symbol in the form of a. letter which may constitute a part of a word sign. This sign includes a casing 31 supported upon a base of insulating material 32 to which are secured lamp sockets 33 on which are mounted lamps As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the lamps are arranged to form the letter T, and the casing is constructed to form the outline of such letter. Prisms 35 and 36 are supported in the casing 31 so as to refract the light rays projected from the lamps and re flectors. Each lamp 3% is provided with a concave reflector 37, and all of the reflectors are rigidly secured to a wire frame 38 sustained for reciprocating movement upon the base 32 by means of spring arms 39. These arms also serve to normally urge the frame and consequently the reflector to a predetermined position with respect to the lamps 3%, and each reflector is formed with an opening 40 through which the lamp extends so that the reflector can move independently of the lamp.

Any suitable means may be provided for continuously reciprocating the frame 38 in order to secure the vibratory or trembling incvement of the reflectors 37. In the present instance I have shown such means as comprising a solenoid ell secured upon the rear side of the plate 32 by means of brackets 4-2. A movable core 4:3 of the solenoid is sustained by a spring arm ll secured to a bracket 45, such arm also carrying a block of insulating material. 46 for maintaining such arm in necessary spaced relation to the solenoid. The upper end of the core i3 is provided with an extension 47 connected to a spring bar 48. The bar 48 is connected at its upper end to yoke 4-9 which latter in turn is pivotally connected to an arm 50 extended through an opening 51 in the plate 32 and 1l-? dly secu d to the frame 3 I iown in Fig. 5, the spring arm provided with a bowed extension carrying a contact which normally engages a contact. l adjustably carried by a T he post 55 is in turn combining post supported upon a bracket 56 secured tothe plate 32.

The contacts 53 and El constitute the terminals of. a circuit including the windings of the solenoid 41 and abattery B, and as the arm l t normally urges the contact 53 into eng ll and its bowed evtension 5L is likewise lowered so the contact 53 disengages the contact 5t thereby disrupting the circuit and dcenergizing the solenoid. As soon as the solenoid is deenergizcd, the arm All and the frame 38 return to normal position, thereby elevating the reflectors 37 and moving the contact into engagement with the contact to again complete the circuit; to energize the solenoid. This action of energizing and deenergizing the solenoid is continuous so that a reciprocating movement of the reflectors is produced, such movement being suffciently rapid to effect a vibratory movement of the reflectors so that when the lamps 34 are illuminated the scintillating effectof the light rays will be produced. This scintillating effect is exaggerated by the refraction of the light rays through the medium of the prisms 35 and 36.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, I have here shown an illuminated sign comprising a pln "ality of letters or characters, and each letter or character being formed from a plurality of electric lamps 57 having a common casing 53 provided at its front side with lenses 59. The lamps for all of the characters or letters are each provided with a reflector 60, and all of these reflectors are supported upon a frame 61 which is mounted for movement in substantially the same manner as the frame 38 in Fig. 4. This frame is adapted to be rapidly reeiprocated so as to effect vibratory or trembling movement of all of the reflectors simultaneously by means of a motor 62 having a crank 63 connected to a shaft 64- by means of a rod 65 and an arm 66, the rod being pivotally con nected to the arm and the latter rigidly connectcd to the shaft. The shaft 6% is journalled in bearing 67. and fixed to the shaft is an arm 68 (Fig. 7) which is rigidly connected to the frame (51.

When the motor 62 is energized reciprocating movement of the rod 65 is ellected to oscillate the shaft- 6% thereby rocking the arm 68 to reciprocate the frame 61 and thus effect vibratory movement of all of the re tlectors 60. A vibratory or trembling move ment of the reflectors produces a scintillating ellect of the light rays for all of the letters of the sign,

Referring now to Fig. 8, I have here shown a casing 70 which is adapted to house the lamp, reflector and actuating means shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The casing 70 is ill) constructed to provide at its front end a syn'ibol, indicated at 71 which is in the present inst nce in the form of a five pointed star. This symbol includes a lens 72 preferably made up of a plurality of prisms arran ed to effect the desired diffusion of the light rays emanating from the lam 3 21 and so as to accentuate the scintillations generated by the vibrating reflector. This form of illun'iinated symbol may be used as an ornament or as a tail light for automobiles, and in the latter adaptation the vibrating means for the reflector may be dispensed with, and the usual vibration of the motor vehicle to which the tail light is applied can be utilized for etlectii vibration of the reflector to produce scintillating effect of the light.

ll hat l claim is:

l. in advertising device comprising an artificial source of light, a concaved mirror reflector disposed about and behind said source of light, and electro-magnetic means for quickly vibrating or trembling said retlcctor.

An advertising device comprising an artificial light source, means providing a plurality of coucaved reflecting surfaces adjacent said light source, and means for quickly vibrating said reflecting surfaces relatively to said light source.

3. An advertising device comprising a plurality of artificial light sources, a re 'tlector disposed adjacent each light source, and means for quickly vibrating said reflectors relatively to said light sources.

An advertising device comprising a plurality of light sources, means providing a curved reflecting surface lehind each light sourc and electric means for quickly vibrating said reflecting surfaces relatively to said light sources.

An advertising device comprising a plurality of artificial light sources, means providing curved reflecting surfaces about and behind each of said lightsources, and electr -magnetic means for quickly vibrating the reflecting surfaces relatively to said light sources.

(3 An advertising device comprising a p lity of artificial light sources, a reflector disposed adjacent each light source, means for quickly vibrating said reflectors rtively to said light sources, and a refracg means associated with said reflector.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES G. KEEN AN.

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