US2096360A - Changeable sign - Google Patents

Description

A. G. HELLER CHANGEABLE SIGN Oct. 19, 1937.

Filed Oct. 27, 1936 I ,l l $11120 .f El.

ALEXANDER 6. HEL/ El? INVENTOR BY 0. AT RNEY Patented oct-19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE claims.

This invention relates to changeable signs.

'I'he objects of the invention are to provide a sign structure which may be quickly and easily changed at any time to present different sign characters, writing, or ilgures or in fact, any forms of representation, which will attract attention and hence have a true "sign" value and which with all these advantages will be of relatively low cost.

'I'he foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts as hereinafter described and broadly claimed.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification illustrates certain practical and at present desirable forms of the invention, but it should be understood that the structure may be modied and changed in other ways, all within the true intent and broad scope of the claims.

Figure 1 is a broken face View partly in section of one of the sign constructions.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken cross sectional detail of the same.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view illustrating a modiilcation.

Figure 4 is a like view of a further modification.

Aits shown in the several views, changeable sign characters are formed in this invention by sign elements 'l finished diiferently on opposite sides and reversibly mounted in sockets 8 provided in a background or base plate l.

In the first form of the invention, Figures 1 and 2, the sign elements 1 are in the form of substantially spherical transparent balls and the diiferen ce in nish is effected by having coatings i covering portions of these balls.) In this particular disclosure, the light reflecting surfaces are faced to the interior so as to project reflected light out through the transparent balls and the outer surfaces of the coatings are dull and colored or finished to more or less match the background surface li. Consequently, with the uncovered sides turned outwardly, the sign elements will show bright and reilect light, and with the covered sides faced outwardly, they will simply conform to or more or less match the background surface. Thus, by turning the bright sides outwardly or inwardly, as the case may be, the various sign elements may be "spotted to present diiferent designs and shapes.

In the several constructions illustrated, the sockets are in the form of substantially circular 55 openings in the background member and the ball elements are held rotatably seated in said openings by a resilient back plate i2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the back plate i2 may be slidably supported on screw studs i3 and be resiliently and adjustably pressed toward the front plate 9 by springs i4 held by abutment nuts I5. The front or background forming member 9 is shown as carrying a rearwardly directed flange i6 covering the edge of the resilient back plate I2. Cushioning and non-scratching material such as l0 felt pad i1 may be interposed between the pressure plate I2 and the balls. The reflective coatings i0 are shown as of somewhat greater than hemispherical extent, but it will be appreciated that the amount of coverage will depend to an extent upon the effects desired.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the ball elements 'l have one flat face i8 covered by the coating material i0 and adapted to form a flush continuation of the background base when the element is turned to the nonsign forming position shown at the right in this view..

The reversible sign forming members may be made in various shapes and sizes and as indicated in Figure 4, they may be light emitting in and of themselves. y In this particular view, the elements 'i are in the form of substantially spherical light globes containing illaments i9 having external terminals 20, 2|, which in the active position, will engage terminal portions 22, 23 on the front and 30 back plates 9, l2 respectively. In this construction, different lamps may be chosen according to position, to form a desired design and then be turned in their sockets as necessary to connect them in or out of circuit. 35

In all the forms illustrated, the sign is entirely self-contained'and there are no parts to take out or put ln, it being merely necessary to partially rotate the sign elements to produce the different desired eifects. Additional effects may be at- 40 tained by providing openings 24 through the holding socket formations 25 in the back plate.

I claim:

1. A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerous circular openings, substantially spherical and substantially transparent sign elements having light reflective coatings over portions of the same and faced inwardly to project reflected light outwardly through said substantially spherical sign elements, said coat- 60 ings being exteriorly finished to substantially match the background plate and means for cushioning and rotatably confining said substantially spherical elements in said substantially circular openings and enabling rotation of selected elements in any direction to change the appearance oi.' the sign.

2. 'A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerous circular openings, substantially spherical and substantially transparent sign elements having light reflective coatings over portions of the same and faced inwardly to project reiiected light outwardly through said substantially spherical sign elements, said coatings being exteriorly finished to substantially match the background plate, means for cushioning and rotatably confining said substantially spherical elements in said substantially circular openings and enabling rotation of selected elements in any direction to change the appearance of the sign; said means including a backing plate yieldingly held to said background plate and having sockets to receive the back portions of said substantially spherical elements and cushioning material in said sockets for frictionally retaining said elements in various positions of rotative adjustment.

3. A changeable sign comprising a background plate having numerous circular openings,r substantially spherical and substantially transparent sign elements having light reflective coatings over portions of the same and faced inwardly to project reiiected light outwardly through said substantially spherical sign elements, said coatings being exteriorly nished to substantially match the background plate, means for cushioning and rotatably confining said substantially spherlical elements in said substantially circular openings and enabling rotation of selected elements in any direction to change the appearance of the sign, said means including a backing plate yieldingly held to said background plate and having openings forming sockets for the back portions of said substantially spherical elements and exposing the elements reversely to the exposure at the front of the sign.

4. A changeable sign comprising abackground having numerous openings,reversible sign forming elements seated in said openings; said sign forming elements being finished on one side to more or less match the background and having a contrasting appearance at the opposite side, said members being in the form of electric light bulbs and electrical connecting means by which reversal of said bulbs will effect the lighting and extinguishment of said electric light bulbs.

5. A changeable sign comprising a background having numerous openings, reversible sign forming elements seated in said openings, said sign forming elements being nished on one side to more or less match the background and having a contrasting appearance at the opposite side, said members being substantially spherical electric lamp globes, the openings in the background being substantially circular to rotatably receive the same and means for effecting individual circuit making and breaking operations by rotative reversal of said lamp globes in said openings.

ALEXANDER GORDON HELLER.

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