US1066591A - Interchangeable-letter electric sign. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. ELLIS.

INTEBCHANGEABLE LETTER ELECTRIC 'SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1910.

Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. ELLIS.

INTERGHANGEABLE LETTER ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7, 1910.

1,066,591. Patented July 8,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. ELLIS, 01? DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELLIS NATIONAL ELEC- TRIC SIGN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

IrBnoHnNoEABLE-LE'MER .ELECTRIQ SIGN.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Application filed December 7, 1910. Serial 1V0. 596,118.

and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Interchangeable-Letter Electric Sign, of which the following is a' specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric signs adapted to display interchangeable sign letters, andthe objects of my invention are: to provide an interchangeable letter electric sign, comprising a supporting framehaving conductors in circuit with a source of electric power, and independent removable letters made up of incandescent lamps suitably connected by circuit wires, which wires are also connected to metal clips which are adapted to engage the said conductors when the letters are placed upon the supporting frame, whereby a circuit may be established through the said lamps and source of electric power.

Further,'to provide a supporting frame l1&V-.

ing conductor bars-adapted to be connected with a current supply of. high voltage,.and other conductor bars adapted to be engaged by metal terminal clips carried by independent blocks or frames, having letters outlined thereon by incandescent lamps, suitably connected by wires which are also connectedto the said terminal clips, a suitable transformer being connected to the high voltage conductor bars and to the bars engaged by the terminal clips whereby the voltage may be lowered to the required lamp power, said letter blocks being removable and interchangeable, and being provided with latch devices for securing them to the supporting frame I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a front view of an advertising sign, constructed in accordance with my invention, letters being omitted to show the arrangement of the supporting frame. Fig. 2, is a rear view of one of the letter blocks, showing the manner of wiring the lamps which outline the letters and of connecting them with metal terminal clips. Fig. 3, is a front view, in perspective, of a letter block, the lamps being omitted. Fig. 4, is a rear view of a removable transformer. Fig. 5, is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the supporting frame and one of the letter blocks, showing the manner of connecting the block with the conductor bars of the supporting frame. Fig. 6, is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement shown'in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts through the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1- designatcs a letter supporting frame, which in its preferred form comprises upper and lower strips 2 of ornamental molding, which are connected at intervals by bars3. These strips ormoldings are preferably constructcd of galvanized iron, and the bars 3 are preferably channel bars, as shown.

The upper and lower moldings are each formed to provide a back plate portion 4,.

that is adapted to be secured to the channel bars 3, and upon each of these plates are secured a plurality of blocks '5, of any suitable insulating material, preferably fiber. The blocks 5 are preferably positioned above the channel-bars 3, and securing boltsG are passed through the blocks, thew back plates,fl

and the bars, and the heads of the bolts are housed in recesses in the blocks to prevent contact. Upon each set of t-he'blocks' 5"are secured by angle plates '7, pairsaof conductor bars or strips 8 and 9, and these strips extend the entire length of the frame of the sign, which may be any required length and width, such signs being especially adapted to be placed on the tops of high buildings. The conductor strips are preferably'copper and are arranged to lie edgewise at right angles to the faces of the blocks 5, and in parallel lines, the conductors 9 being of greater width than the conductors 8.

The angle plates? are also removably secured to the insulating blocks by suitable screw bolts 10, the heads of which are housed in recesses in the'block to prevent contact. The strips or conductors 8 are connected bycircuit wires 11 with asource of power. The current from the conductors 8 passes through a transformer 12, inclosed being one for'about every one hundred" lamps. Wires 13 and 14 extend from the transformer, which connect respectively with spring metal terminal clips 15 and 16, which are secured to .non-oonducting blocks 17, carried by the transformer casing, as

shown in Fig. 4, and the clips 15 and 16 are adapted to engage the conductor bars 8 and 9 respectively. Thus a current of high voltage enteringthe transformer from the conductors 8, through the Wires 13, passes into the conductors 9' through the-wires 14,

-at't-hei'equired voltage for lamps of a given candle power.

The electric current entering the trans former12 may be, and usually is, that of a citys electric light system. It enters the conductors 8 at 110 volts, and the transformer lowers the voltage so that the current flows through the wires 14 into the conluctors 9 at 10 volts. The 10-volt current of the conductors 9 is adapted to the use of electric lamps that are provided with tungsten filaments and the 110 volt current of the smaller wires and terminalstrips are adapted to the use-of lamps having carbon filaments. 1 s

The letter blocks 18 consist of fiat top rectangular shaped blocks of any suitable material, preferably galvanized iron ortin having sides and ends and bein preferably open underneath between its si es and ends. The raised outlines of a letter or a letter in relief is secured on each block and these raised letters 18 are provided with aperture'sfor the reception of electric incandesqent lamps. Each block contains preferably but one letter, but, if desired, blocks may be made large enough to receive two or more letters or symbols. The letter blocks are removably secured to the-edges of their supporting frame in the following manner: The upper and lower ends of each block form flanges 19, which prpjcct beyond the end of the block, proper, and are adapted to rest against the top opposing inner edges 20 of the top and bottom moldings of the frame; and the blocks are held and secured against these edges by any suitable means, but pieferablyby turn-buttons 21, that are motmted in the block upon stems 22, close to the end flanges of the blocks. These stems are rotatably mounted in the blocks in any suitable manner, and the ends of the stems above the top surface of the blocks are provided with thumb pieces 23 to enable an operator to grasp them and turn the stems and turnbuttons, the thumb pieces being arranged to stand'on the stems parallel to the turn-but tons. Slots 23 are cut through the ends of the blocks to permit the turn-button pins to be swung around through them to engage the under sides of the edges 20 of the moldings of the frame, by which the blocks are locked to the supporting frame. The transformer blocks are also equipped with similar turn-buttons.

- The letter carrying blocks are electrically connected to the conductor bars 9, and my inventioncontemplates in this respect any operative terminal contacting device mounted on the letter carrying blocks by means of which a circuit maybe formed through the lamps, and while a number of different contacting terminals for accomplishing this object can be attached to the letter carrying blocks, I preferably carry out this feature of my invention in the following manner: In two opposite corners of the under side of each letter block, are secured in any suitable manner, preferably by bolts, insulating blocks 25, to each of which I detachably secure a yoke-shaped form of spring clip 26, the two blades of which are made of resilient conductive metal. The two blades of these terminal clips are formed with outwardly curved ends to enable them to straddle the edges of the conductor rails or bars 9 of the frame, and they are formed close enough together to leave a narrower passage-way be- '9 tween them than the thicknessof the conductorbars, so that when they are down over the free edges of the said bars they will spring apart and clamp their opposite sides with a resilient frictional clamping tension that will make an electric current connection between them and the said conductor bars. I

These terminal contact clips project from. the blocks far enough. to straddle the free edges of the conductor bars 9 in cases where tungsten filament lamps are to be used, but where carbon filament lamps are used, the clips are spaced to engage the conductors 8. Thus, if tungsten filament lamps are to be used, these yokeshaped contact terminals are arranged in direct alinement with the center of each of the free edges of the larger conductor strips 9, which receive a ten volt current from the transformer, and when the letter carrying blocks are in their locked positions in the frame their contact terminals are in operative circuit engagement with the strip 9, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. If, however, it is desired to use carbon filement lamps, a volt current should be used and the insulating blocks and their clips are secured to the letter carrying blocks in positions to permit the yoke terminals to engage the free edges of the narrower conductor strips 8 of theframe, as will be understood. y

The contact clips are connected by suitablejcircuit wires 27 and '28 to two fuse plug sockets 29 and 30 respectively, fron which circuit wires extend to the plurality of elec I poses for different subjects.

ftric lamp sockets 81, that form outlines of the sign letter or symbol on the under side of the top surface of each block, the sockets being secured to the under side of the top surface of each letter carrying bloek by any suitable means but preferably by screws 32. These sockets extend through apertures in the top of the block into the center of the width of the limbs of the letter to be illuminated which is formed on the topor outer surface of each block in any suitable manner or of any suitable material. I preferably, however, form in relief 011 the blocks hollow letters, of any suitable material, and secure them by any suitable means to the outer surface of -,the block, and these letters are provided with apertures that registenwith the sockets and which are adaptedft'o receive the threaded plug end of the lamps which extend loosely through them and screw into the sockets.

The letters are painted or formed to give a distinct outline from the surface of the block on which they arelaced. The words are spaced by spacing b ocks, one or more of which maybe transformers, according-to the number of words in the sign, and which are provided with the locking turn-buttons and are otherwise arranged to fit the sign frame.

My invention is adapted to display electrically illuminated and outlined interchangeable word signs for advertising pur- The changing of the letters to form a new word or combination of words, is easily and quickly accomplished, and that without the ineonveir ience incident to the disconnecting of Wires bers and transverse connecting bars, rectangular lamp receiving blocks and rectangular spacing blocks supported between the said side members, a transformer supported by one of said spacing blocks, pairs of parallel conductor bars conn'ected to the frame and insulated therefrom, one ear in each pair being connected with a current supply, friction clips on the block having the transformer, which engage the conductor bars and wires connecting said clips with the transformer, friction clips on the lamp blocks engaging the conductors not connected with the current supply, and lamp sockets in the lamp blocks in circuit with the said clips. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. ELLIS. lVitnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ADELLA M. Fem/LE.

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