Improvements in Illuminating Signs.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec.. 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Illuminating Signs.
I, ALONZO LEONIDUS BRUMFIELD, of 35 Clark Street, Paterson, in the
County of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Sign-
writer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an illuminating-sign simple and
durable in construction, brilliant in effect, and also to provide simple means for
changing said illuminating-sign into a day-sign.
The invention consists in an improved illuminating sign baving a series of
various coloured glass strips or tubes revolving therein. These revolving tubes
I term "prismatic tubes."
In constructing my invention I provide a box or case having a removable top.
The said walls of said box are preferably made of glass with the sign or lettering
in blank and the spaces between and around said lettering being blackened, the
words being thus formed of blank letters on an opaque ground. Within the box is
arranged an endless chain or belt to which I secure in any desired manner a series
of narrow glass strips or tubes of various colours or designs. Said chain engages
with tooth-wheels which are secured to a shaft adapted to revolve in suitable
bearings. To this shaft is also secured a driving wheel which can be operated
either by a belt extending through one of the side walls of the box and connected
to the driving pulley of a motor, or directly by clock work. If necessary an
intermediate wheel can be arranged between the aforesaid tooth-wheels to prevent
the endless chain from sagging and also to reduce the strain on the said wheels.
At or near the centre of the box and within the chamber formed by the glass strips
or tubes are arranged burners or lights, adapted to throw their light through said
strips or tubes against the blank spaces of the sign plates, whereby when the belt
is revolving a brilliant changeable effect is produced on said spaces. To increase
said effect I may use plain glass tubes, filled with small broken pieces of various
coloured glass or with small prisms, whereby the light passing through said tubes
is broken and reflected on the said blank spaces.
A sign of the above description will make an excellent night sign, but would not
show very plainly in day time, as the interior of the box is dark during the day
and the blank letters are consequently hardly distinguishable from the black or
opaque ground. To overcome this objection, I arrange outside of the endless
chain carrying the strips and tubes and as near as possible to the sign plates,
curtains or shades of white gilt or any desired colour, which when opened serve as
a background for the letters, and thus renders a clear and distinct exposure of
the same.
Dated this 8th day of December 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Illuminating Signs.
1, ALONZO LEONIDUS BRUMFIELD, of 35 Clark Street, Paterson, in the
County of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Sign-
painter, 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 this invention is to provide an illuminating sign simple and durable

page_text: -
in construction, brilliant in effect, and also to provide simple means for changing
said illuminating sign into a day sign.
The invention consists in the improved illuminating sign having a series of
various coloured glass strips or tubes, revolving therein and the combination and
arrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter more
fully described and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved illuminating sign, part of the sign
plate being broken away.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the top or cover being removed.
Fig. 3 represents one of the revolving tubes, which I term "prismatic tubes."
In said drawings a represents a box or case with removable top b, and side
walls a cca. These side walls are, preferably made of glass with the sign or
lettering in blank and the spaces between and around said lettering being
blackened, the words being thus formed of blank letters on an opaque ground.
Within the box a is arranged an endless chain or belt d, to which is secured in any
desired manner a series of narrow glass strips m m or tubes n n of various colours
or designs. Said chain engages tooth wheels e e¹, secured to shaft ff, which latter
are adapted to revolve in bearings of any shape or construction. To shaft fis
also secured a driving wheel g, which can be operated either by a belt h, extending
through the side wall a' and connected to the driving pulley of a motor, or directly
by clock-work. If necessary, an intermediate wheel e² can be arranged between
the tooth wheels e e' to prevent the endless chain from sagging, and also to reduce
the strain on the said wheels. At or near the centre of the box and within the
chamber formed by said glass strips or tubes are arranged burners or lights i i,
adapted to throw their light through said strips or tubes against the blank spaces
of the sign plates c c, whereby when the belt is revolving a brilliant changeable
effect is produced on said spaces. To increase said effect, I use plain glass
tubes n n, which are filled with small prisms, whereby the light passing through
said tubes is broken and reflected on the said blank spaces.
A sign of the above description will make an excellent night-sign, but would not
show very plainly in day-time, as the interior of the box is dark during the day
and the blank letters are consequently hardly distinguishable from the black or
opaque ground. To overcome this objection, I arrange outside of the endless
chain carrying the strips and tubes and as near as possible to the sign plates c c
curtains or shades o o of white gilt or any desired colour, which when opened serve
as a background for the letters, and thus renders a clear and distinct exposure of
the same.
I have shown in the drawings the endless glass strips or tube belt arranged
vertically and the curtain or shade horizontally, as will be manifest. Said belt
could be arranged to revolve horizontally and in place of the curtain, I could
insert behind the sign plate a plain or coloured board or plate.
I do not limit myself to the construction shown and described, as various
changes can be made without changing the scope of my invention.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. An illuminating sign consisting of a box, opaque sign plates secured thereto
and having blank letter spaces, a series of prismatic tubes adapted to be revolved
between said sign plates, and means for revolving said series of tubes, substantially
as set forth.
2. An illuminating sign consisting of a box, opaque sign plates secured thereto
and provided with blank letter spaces, a series of transparent tubes adapted to be
revolved between sign plates, pieces of glass of various colours placed in said tubes,
and means for revolving said tubes.

page_text: 3. An illuminating sign consisting of a box, opaque sign plates secured thereto
and provided with blank letter spaces, a transparent background arranged between
sign plates, means for revolving said background, and a movable opaque
background arranged between the transparent background and the sign plates.
4. An illuminating sign consisting of a box, opaque sign plates secured thereto
and provided with blank spaces, a series of tubes adapted to be revolved between
said sign plates, means for revolving said series of tubes, and a curtain or shade
arranged between said tubes and sign plates and adapted when opened to give
plain background to the letters on the sign plates, substantially as described, as
and for the purposes set forth.
a
5. The improvements in illuminating signs, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described, set forth, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 8th day of September 1893.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.