Improvements in or relating to Tablets or Plates for Displaying Luminous Figures, Characters, or other Signs.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1888
Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
Improvements in or relating to Tablets or Plates for Displaying
Luminous Figures, Characters, or other Signs.
I, THEOPHILUS GEORGE HUSBAND NICHOLSON M.R.C.S. etc. of 47 Catherine
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Dental Surgeon, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in tablets or plates which will display the
figures, characters or other signs thereon, both in daylight and in the dark.
The immediate object of the improvements is to provide a luminous number or name
tablet, which shall be more durable and effective than any hitherto known to me. The
luminosity is produced by any suitable luminous paint or paste preferably of a light
color, so that it may be readily visible in daylight.
The invention may be best described by reference to the accompanying drawings,
which represent it as it may be applied to number tablets for street doors.
Figure 1, is an elevation of a simple unprotected tablet.
Figure 2, is an elevation, and,
Figure 3, a longitudinal section of a tablet which is protected from the action of the
weather.
In these, A A' are the figures, characters, or signs which are raised above the
surface of the tablet proper, B, and have their faces coated with a luminous substance.
There have been tablets made, on which numbers have been painted with a luminous
pigment, but they do not give so good an effect, as the characters are not raised above
the surface of the tablet.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3.
The Figure A is covered by a plate C of glass or other transparent material, which
is let into a frame D, preferably of metal. The glass is placed a short distance from
the Figure A and is retained within the frame by cement d, or by springs or clips d¹
let into a slot and turned over the glass, or by other suitable means, so that it cannot
be pressed against the Figure A. The frame D preferably encloses the tablet, except
at the points through which the screws E or their equivalent pass.
At these points
the tablet is extended outwards so as to form lugs b, over which the frame fits. These
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page_text: lugs are sprung into lateral undercuts and are sunk therein sufficiently to prevent the
back of the tablet sticking to the woodwork or framing, thus facilitating removal and
preventing injury. The tablet could, however, be made to coincide with the outer
edge of the frame D, the screws E, passing, as before, through both frame and tablet
and into the woodwork or backing F behind. Or the tablet could be entirely
surrounded by the frame being sunk therein, so as to be flush with the back thereof.
The glass protects the luminous substance from dust and rain and from mischievous
mutilation, and thus it is enabled to retain its freshness and luminosity for a greater
length of time than in the case of the tablet shown in Figure 1.
My invention is also applicable to street name plates, shop or office name plates,
hotel signs, etcetera.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I claim is
1. A tablet or plate on which the figures, characters, or signs are in relief and are
coated on their faces with a luminous substance substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In combination with a tablet or plate carrying luminous figures, characters or
signs, such as are herein described, a transparent protecting plate, such as C, attached
to a suitable frame which rests upon or surrounds the said tablet or plate and is secured
thereto and to the backing by screws or their equivalent, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Dated this 30th day of January 1888.