Improvements in Illuminated Signs for Advertizing.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Illuminated Signs for Advertizing.
I, NEILSON BURGESS, of Highlands, in the County of Monmouth and State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Actor, 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 following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which an
electric are lamp may be utilized as a means for illuminating a sign, the letters or
characters of which are preferably formed by openings cut through the substances
of a screen which may comprise either the front wall of a box-like structure, or
part of a flexible curtain, extensible across the front part of the box.
To this end my invention consists in the details of the several parts making up
the apparatus as a whole and in the combination of the parts as more particularly
hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings :-
:―
Figure is a detail toj or plan view of a box or frame forming part of the
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a detail view in horizontal section of the box.
Figure 3 is a detail view in front elevation of the box.
In the accompanying drawings A denotes a box or hollow frame within which
lamps B, C, or like light-producing devices are placed. The rear wall D is
preferably formed on several angles as shown, the corners being cut by short
lengths placed at an angle with the front of the box and the front having winged
walls E El forming recesses in which the lamps are located, so that no direct ray
from the lamp will be thrown upon the screens in a direction which will enable it
to pass directly outward through the screen F.
The whole interior surface of the walls of the box is provided with a series of
curved reflecting surfaces which may be either concave, as shown, or may be
convex, the foriner presenting a fluted appearance, while the laiter would give
to the walls a corrugated appearance. The object in both instances, however,
is to break up the rays of light by causing them to be reflected in different
directions and so broken as to prevent any appreciable quantity of reflected
rays of light being thrown directly outwards in lines at right angles to the
screen, which either forms the front of the box, or is a strip movable across the
front.
The device is particularly adapted for use when an electric are lamp forms the
luminous body, and its use obviates the objection which has been found to exist
when it has been attempted to use such a light in prior structures, by breaking up
the rays of light as in the manner stated and providing simply a box the whole
interior of which, when viewed from the front, appears to be luminous, so that its
interior seen through very narrow slits formed in the front part, outlines the
character formed by the narrow opening or slit in the screens and enables it to be
seen from a great distance with such outline clearly defined.
In prior devices of this kind, when no precaution has been taken to break up
the rays, they have been projected through the openings and diffused so that beyond
a slight distance from the apparatus the outlines of the characters have been vague
and confused.
It is preferred to use a movable screen in which the letters are formed by narrow
openings cut through the substance of the screen, which is flexible, and has its

page_text: inner surface provided with a series of highly polished surfaces which are irregular
in shape. It is not necessary that the pieces of reflected material shall extend
from top to bottom of the screen or to the interior of the box, as small pieces
and short lengths may be used, provided they are placed at various angles with the
interior surfaces, either of the box, or of the screen, so as to reflect and re-reflect
the rays of light within the box, and so break them as to cause the interior of the
box, as stated, to present a highly luminous appearance when viewed through an
opening in the wall of the box, and yet not allow the rays of light to be directly
thrown through such opening.
It has been found by experiment, that in some cases it is advantageous to provide
the slit with lips G, as illustrated in the drawings. These lips turn outward, having
formed between them the narrow slit through which the luminous interior of the
box is seen.
It is obvious that the invention as herein described may be embodied in
structures varying in detail from that illustrated and described, and that the
special construction of the apparatus so described, is not essential to my invention,
the main feature of which resides in the combination with the highly luminous
lamp or light, as an electric are light, of a box having its interior surfaces provided
with a multitude of reflecting surfaces placed at angles each with the other so as
to break up the direct and reflected rays as described.
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 combination in an illuminated sign, a box or like hollow receptacle having
recesses at the end to receive electric are lamps, the box provided with an irregular
and broken reflecting surface, the electric lamps placed in the recesses in the box
and a front wall or screen provided with slits formed to the desired outline, all
substantially as described.
2. In combination in an illuminated sign, a box having an opening in one side,
the interior surface covered with irregular reflecting surfaces, a flexible screen
adapted to be drawn across the opening in the wall of the box and having narrow
openings through the screen formed on the desired outline and the back of the screen
provided with irregular reflecting surfaces, and the lights supported in the box, all
substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of August. A.D. 1895.
NEILSON BURGESS.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicant.