Improvements in Illuminated Signs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov.,
., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Illuminated Signs.
I, BENJAMIN MCKENZIE, of 633, Cedar Street, St. Paul, in the State of
Minnesota, United States of America, but at the time of this application, of Bank
House, Beverley Road, Hull, in the County of York, England, Capitalist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs, its object being
to provide a sign the lettering of which is illuminated at night, and by means
of a coloured' background is also readily distinguishable by day.
To this end my invention consists in providing a triangular case of tin or
other bright surfaced sheet metal, in one angle of which is placed a light, and-
in the opposite side of which is arranged to slide a sheet metal or other opaque
material, through which are cut the letters of the sign. Interposed between
this sign and the light is a translucent or semi-opaque slide, which diffuses the
light over the entire surface and allows it to be emitted uniformly through the
various letters of the sign. On the outside of the sign slide is preferably
arranged a transparent glass slide to protect the sign and improve the appearance
of the device.
The outer enclosing' case of my device may be formed of tin or other bright
surfaced metal. The top and bottom are triangular and similar in form and size
while the other walls are at right angles to the top and bottom. In one angle
of the case is placed the electric or other light, and in the opposite sides the
sign is arranged. This is made up of a series of slides. One of these slides
which is of sheet metal or other suitable opaque material has cut therethrough
the letters of the sign. In the rear of this slide and between it and the light
is arranged a translucent or semi-opaque slide of any desired colour and outside
of the slide is preferably arranged a transparent slide. These slides can be in-
serted in place and removed therefrom through a side opening closed by a slide,
and the lamp can be similarly inserted and removed through a side opening'
closed by another slide. The rays of light from the lamp are reflected from
the diverging sides of the case and distributed over the translucent slide, which
diffuses the light and causes it to be emitted uniformly through all the sign
letter openings. The transparent outer slide serves as a protection for the sign
proper and gives an ornamental finish to the device. The device by night
furnishes an illuminated sign of the colour determined by the translucent slide;
and by day the sign is readily legible, the letters showing the colour of the
background. The sign can be changed if desired by a changing of the lettered
and coloured slides, so as to give an indefinite variety of signs. Where it is
désired to have a double, oppositely arranged sign, the triangular case is made
double with the light at the meeting apexes of the triangles. It is a convenient
form for use upon the caboose of a railway freight train where it is desired to
have a sign which can be read from either direction. So also the signs can be
multiplied in number by combining as many triangles, their apexes meeting' at'

page_text: a common centre with a light placed at its centre, and emitting its rays through
each of the triangular compartments.
Dated this 29th day of July 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Illuminated Signs.
I, BENJAMIN MCKENZIE, of 633, Cedar Street, St. Paul, in the State of
Minnesota, United States of America, but at the time of this application, of Bank
House, Beverley Road, Hull, in the County of York, England, Capitalist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs, its object being
to provide a sign the lettering of which is illuminated at night, and by means
of a coloured background is also readily distinguishable by day.
To this end my invention consists in providing a triangular case of tin or
other bright surfaced sheet metal, in one angle of which is placed a light, and
in the opposite side of which is arranged to slide a sheet metal or other opaque
material, through which are cut the letters of the sign. Interposed between
this sign and the light is a translucent or semi-opaque slide, which diffuses the
light over the entire surface and allows it to be emitted uniformly through the
various letters of the sign. On the outside of the sign slide is preferably
arranged a transparent glass slide to protect the sign and improve the appearance
of the device.
My invention further consists in the construction and combination hereinafter
particularly described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device with parts of the upper wall
broken away the better to show its construction;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same;
Figure 4 shows a modified construction having two triangular cases with a
common centrally arranged light, and
Figure 5 is a similar group of four cases with a common illuminating lamp.
In the drawings, A represents the outer enclosing case of my device, formed
of tin or other bright surfaced sheet metal of equivalent material. The top 2
and bottom 3 are triangular and similar in form and size, while the other walls
are at right angles with the top and bottom. In one angle of the case is placed
the electric or other light 4 and in the opposite sides 5 the sign is arranged.
This is made up of a series of slides. The slide 6 of sheet metal or other suit-
able opaque material has cut therethrough the letters 7 of the sign. In the rear
of this slide and between it and the light is arranged a translucent or semi-
opaque slide 8 of any desired colour, and outside of the slide 6 is preferably
arranged the transparent slide 9. These slides can be inserted in place and
removed therefrom through a side opening closed by the slide 10, and the lamp
can be similarly inserted and removed through a side opening closed by the
slide 11. The rays of light from the lamp are reflected from the diverging

page_text: sides 12 and 13 of the case and distributed over the translucent slide 8 which
diffuses the light and causes it to be emitted uniformly through all the sign
letter openings. The transparent outer slide 9 serves as a protection for the
sign proper and gives an ornamental finish to the device. The device by night
furnishes an illuminated sign of the colour determined by the translucent slide,
and by day the sign is readily legible, the letters showing the colour of the back-
ground. The sign can be changed as desired by a changing of the lettered
and coloured slides so as to give an indefinite variety of signs.
Where it is desired to have a double, oppositely arranged sign, the triangular
case is made double with the light 4 at the meeting apexes of the triangles,
as shown in Figure 4. It is a convenient form for use upon the caboose of a
railway freight train, where it is desired to have a sign which can be read from
either direction.
So also the signs can be multiplied in number by combining as many triangles,
their apexes meeting at a common centre with a light placed at its centre,
and emitting its rays through each of the triangular compartments, as depicted
in Figure 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a case having diverging
walls with a deflecting surface inside, a lamp arranged at one apex, an opaque
perforate slide in the opposite side and an interposed translucent slide, substan-
tially as described.
2. In an illuminated sign composed of an outer enclosing case, an electric
or other light arranged inside the said case in one angle thereof, and on the
opposite side a slide of sheet metal or other opaque material through which are
cut the letters or emblems of the sign, in combination with a translucent or
semi-opaque slide located at the rear of the opaque perforated slide between it
and the light so as to diffuse the light over the entire surface and allow it
to be emitted uniformly through the various letters of the sign, and a transparent
slide located outside the perforate slide and adapted to protect the sign and
improve the appearance of the device, whereby the lettering of the sign is
illuminated by night and by means of the background is also readily distin-
guishable by day.
3. In combination with a case having inner reflecting walls, a lamp arranged
at one apex, an opening in the wall adjacent thereto through which the lamp
may be inserted and removed, a door for closing said opening, an opaque per-
forate slide arranged in front of the case, a translucent slide in the rear thereof,
an opening in the wall of the case adjacent to said slides, and a door for closing
said opening, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th lav
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.