Improvements in or connected with Sign Characters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1899
Comolete Specification Left, 19th June, 1900-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Sign Characters.
I, ROBERT GOODWIN LAKE, of 1366, Broadway, in the City of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of sign letters, ornaments, symbols or
characters applied to the inner side of the glass pane or other transparent or
translucent support and cemented thereto, and is intended to simplify and
cheapen this class of devices and admit of a greater range of ornamentation, and
prevent the entrance of moisture and dust between the glass and the sign letter
or symbol, such entrance being the chief source of difficulty in maintaining a
letter or design in the proper position upon the glass or other supporting sur-
face to which it is secured.
In accordance with this invention, the display object, consisting of a letter
or symbol, and constituting the display portion of the sign character or orna-
mentation, is of metal-foil, or other pliable and foldable material, adapting it to
yield transversely, or to bend without effecting its shape or appearance when
subsequently returned to a flat condition, and this display object, or display-
portion of the letter, character, or design, is applied to a glass or other transparent
or translucent plate and is protected by an equally pliable metal backing
conforming to the outline of the display object forming the letter or symbol
which constitutes the face or body-portion of the sign character or ornamentation,
and having a flat extended marginal portion which is securely cemented. to the
supporting surface said marginal portion being arranged to project beyond and
bound the letter or symbol.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the display object as the letter
or symbol forming the body or display portion of the sign character or ornamen-
tation, is constructed of pliable sheet metal, such as lead or tin foil, and is
colored, crinkled, embossed, or otherwise ornamented and embellished, accord-
ing to the character of work or effect to be produced. This display object or
display portion of the sign character or ornamentation is attached to the glass
or other supporting surface, by means of a backing of tin-foil or other pliable
metal, depressed to receive the letter or symbol forming the display object or
body-portion of the sign character or ornamentation, and will either extend over
the entire surface bounded by the outermost lines of said letter, symbol, or other
display object, or will be cut to conform to the inner, as well as the outer,
boundary or marginal lines of the letter, symbol, or other display object.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description.
The body portion, consisting of the display object or display portion, of the
sign character or ornamentation, may be of any configuration and may be formed
of pliable sheet metal or other material or substance adapted to conform
accurately to the surface in contact with which it may be arranged. This
pliable body-portion may be crinkled, corrugated, embossed, colored, gilded or
otherwise ornamented to secure the desired effect and appearance to meet the
caprice of the designer or style of finish required.

page_text: The backing is also of pliable sheet metal, such as lead or tin foil, and con-
forms at its outer edge, or at both outer and inner edges, to the shape of the said
body-portion of the sign character or ornamentation, and is of slightly larger
area or dimensions than said body-portion to form an extended marginal portion
which surrounds and bounds the body-portion. This pliable backing is depressed
in its face to form a receptacle to snugly receive the body-portion of the sign
character or ornamentation, the depression or recess being of such depth as to
bring the marginal portion about in the same plane with the face of the display
object forming the body portion. The metal back is cemented to the body-
portion thereby forming a composite sign character or ornamentation comprising
a double thickness or plural-layer intermediate portion and a single thickness
marginal portion or extension, the whole being pliable so as to conform to and
be pressed closely against the glass or other supporting plate to which the com-
posite sign character or ornamentation is affixed. The cement is applied to the
marginal or extended portion.
In certain classes of ornamentation, separate flakes or pieces of pearl, or
other substance, may be used to break the monotony of the face latter or symbol,
cach flake or piece of material thus employed being on an area less than the
face letter, symbol, character or design, or that portion of the sign character or
ornamentation which is within the space bounded by the marginal portion',
whereby the entire sign character may be bent or folded upon itself, either by
accident or design, without destroying its utility, and, subsequently, may be
flattened or smoothed and returned to its original appearance, or to that appearance
which it had previous to such bending or folding, for the reason that the
distortion of the letter, constructed as described, does not permanently affect, in
the slightest degree, the appearance thereof when flattened for application to the
glass or other surface. If preferred, the flakes or pieces may be cemented directly
to the depressed portion of the metal backing. By having the metal backing
formed of pliable sheet metal, such as lead or tin foil, the marginal or extended
portion can be pressed closely against the glass or translucent plate and, being
non-elastic or non-resilient, it will not spring away from the plate, and also by
having the body-portion of the character or ornamentation of pliable of foldable
material (whether consisting of a continuous sheet of pliable metal-foil, or of
separate small flakes of pearl, or its equivalent, spaced apart to form intervals
in which the letter or symbol may be bent or creased), the device is adapted not
only to conform to the supporting surface, but to be returned promptly, and
without the use of special tools, to its original flat condition, after having been
distorted folded, wrinkled, or otherwise rendered shapeless, during the shipment,
or by reason of rough handling.
A sign character constructed as set forth does not require skilled labor in its
attachment to glass or other surface, and, being of pliable and readily foldable
material, a character can receive any amount of rough handling without sustain-
ing injury, and can also be removed after being attached to the glass and used
again without being re-embossed, crinkled or reblocked or stamped.
It will be seen that the marginal or extended doubling will only emphasize the
irregularity of the face, while the marginal securing edge or portion may he
conveniently smoothed and returned to its original condition by pressing it (for
instance) against the surface of the glass or other support.
The letter or character constructed in accordance with my invention cannot
buckle, and, being flat and parallel with the supporting surface, it is not liable
to be displaced or injured by means of window brushes, as in cleaning or washing
the supporting surface. The letter cannot be injured by removal from the
window or supporting surface, a knife or other thin-bladed instrument being
inserted there between, and hence the same may be transferred when necessary
without altering the appearance, and without involving expense other then that
of reattachment.

page_text: The device embodying my invention, also, may be transported with facility and
without danger of injury, as by mail or otherwise, the blow of a postal canceling
stamp upon an envelope or other package containing a letter, not having any
injurious effect thereon.
In applying letters or characters to a smooth supporting surface, the greatest
difficulty consists in causing a uniform contact of the flange or marginal portion
with said surface, but as said marginal portion in the improved letter is pliable,
and portion of the metal backing is arranged in a common plane with the general
flat plane of the surface of the letter or symbol, and thus combines therewith
to form an extended attaching surface by which the security of the fastening to a
base, such as a transparent plate or sheet, is attained. This prevents displace-
ment of any of the parts of the letter, or the warping of the surface thereof
to allow moisture and dust to gain access to the exposed surface.
In this connection it should be noted that those sign characters and symbols
which embody elements having conventional shapes, imparted thereto by means
of stamping devices or dies, and which must retain these shapes both before and
after application to the supporting surface, are liable to be rendered useless by
rough handling, for the reason that any denting or disfiguration of a smooth-
surfaced letter or symbol, or one which is not particularly designed to adapt it
for bending, detracts from the appearance thereof, and necessitates re-stamping,
or manipulation by means of special tools, to return it to its original condition;
but by constructing the entire device of foldable material, such as foil, or con-
structing the body-portion of separate relatively movable flakes attached to a
pliable backing, and particularly by providing the body-portion or face of the
symbol when of foil with a crinkled or irregular surface, any bending or the
body of the letter can be flattened against the surface (hence not offering any
resistance to the shaping of the edge) the disadvantages of stiff or more or less
resilient letters are avoided.
Furthermore, the improved letter or symbol can be attached to curved surfaces,
either convex or concave, and may be carried around or through the angle of
a show case or window, and particularly is the latter adapted for attachment to
bowed, bulged, or bent show windows, when the lines; upon which the letters are
arranged, are disposed obliquely to the curve of the surface, and it will be under-
stood that this advantage, and those above named, apply equally to that form of
the sign character wherein the body-portion is of metal-foil and that wherein
the same is made up of flakes of pearl or equivalent material.
a
From the above description it will be seen that the letter or symbol embodying
my invention consists essentially, of a pliable backing having a central depressed
portion, which is separated from the supporting surfaces, to form
receptacle for a display object which is also pliable or foldable
and yielding in quality, whereby the contact of a moving object with the back
of the letter will not cause the forcible distortion or buckling of the display
object, and the resulting separation of the marginal portion of the backing from
the supporting surface. It should be noted that a crinkled body-portion of
metal-foil is practically more pliable, or less resistant that the backing, owing to
the fact that it is capable of yielding in all directions and at all points where a
strain or pressure may be applied without affecting other parts.
It will be understood. moreover, that various changes in the, form, proportion
and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from
the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.
31
Co
a
1000

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Sign Characters.
I, ROBERT GOODWIN LAKE, of 1366, Broadway, in the City of New York,
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class of sign-letters ornaments, symbols, or
characters applied to the inner side of a glass pane or other transparent or
translucent support and cemented thereto, and is intended to simplify and
cheapen this class of devices and admit of a greater range of ornamentation and
prevent the entrance of moisture and dust between the glass and the sign letter
or symbol, such entrance being the chief source of difficulty in maintaining a
letter or design in the proper position upon the glass or other supporting-surface
to which it is secured.
In accordance with this invention the display object, consisting of a letter or
symbol and constituting the display portion of the sign character or ornamenta-
tion, is of metal foil or other pliable and foldable material, adapting it to yield
transversely or to bend without affecting its shape or appearance when subse-
quently returned to a flat condition, and this display object or display portion of
the letter, character or design is applied to a glass or other transparent or
translucent plate and is protected by an equally pliable metal backing conforming
to the outline of the display object forming the letter or symbol which constitutes
the face or body portion of the sign character or ornamentation and having a
flat extended marginal portion which is securely cemented to the supporting-
surface, said marginal portion being arranged to project beyond and around the
letter or symbol.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the display object, as the letter
or symbol forming the body or display portion of the sign character or ornamen-
tation, is constructed of pliable sheet metal-such as lead or tin-foil, and is
colored, crinkled, embossed, or otherwise ornamented and embellished, according
to the character of work or effect to be produced. This display object or display
portion of the sign character or ornamentation is attached to the glass or other
supporting-surface by means of a backing of tin-foil or other pliable metal
depressed to receive the letter or symbol forming the display object or body
portion of the sign character or ornamentation and will either extend over the
entire surface bounded by the outermost lines of said letter, symbol, or other
display object or will be cut to conform to the inner as well as the outer boundary
or marginal lines of the letter, symbol, or other display object.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a sign-letter, illustrating an
application of the invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the preferred form of sign-letter.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the metal backing.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the composite sign letter attached to a glass
or translucent plate.
Figure 5 is a front view showing a different application of the invention.
Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
of the drawings.
The body portion 1, consisting of the display object or display portion of the
sign character or ornamentation, may be of any configuration and may be
formed of pliable sheet metal or other material or substance adapted to conform

page_text: accurately to the surface in contact with which it may be arranged. This pliable
body portion may be crinkled, corrugated, embossed, colored, gilded, or otherwise
ornamented to secure the desired effect and appearance to meet the caprice of the
designer or style of finish required. The backing 2 is also of pliable sheet
metal, such as lead or tin-foil, and conforms at its outer edge or at both outer
and inner edges to the shape of the said body portion of the sign character or
ornamentation and is of slightly-larger area or dimensions than said body portion
to form an extended marginal portion 3, which surrounds and bounds the part 1.
This pliable backing is depressed in its face to form a receptacle to snugly receive
the body portion of the sign character or ornamentation, the depression or recess
being of such a depth as to bring the marginal portion 3 about in the same plane
with the face of the display object forming the body portion 1. The metal back
is cemented to the body portion 1, thereby forming a composite sign-character or
ornamentation comprising a double thickness or plural-layer intermediate portion
and a single-thickness marginal portion or extension, the whole being pliable, so
as to conform to and be pressed closely against the glass or other supporting-
plate 4, to which the composite sign character or ornamentation is affixed. The
cement is applied to the marginal or extended portion 3.
In certain classes of ornamentation separate flakes or pieces of pearl 5 or other
substance may be used to break the monotony of the face of the letter or symbol,
as indicated in Figure 5, each flake or piece of material thus employed being of
an area less than the face of the letter, symbol, character, or design or that
portion of the sign character or ornamentation which is within the space bounded
by the marginal portion 3, whereby the entire sign character may be bent cr
folded upon itself either by accident or design without destroying its utility and
subsequently may be flattened or smoothed and returned to its original appearance
or to that appearance which it had previous to such bending or folding, for the
reason that the distortion of the letter constructed as described does not per-
manently affect in the slightest degree, the appearance thereof when flattened for
application to the glass or other surface. If preferred, the flakes or pieces 5 may
be cemented directly to the depressed portion of the metal backing. By having
the metal backing formed of pliable sheet metal, such as lead or tin-foil, the
marginal or extended portion 3 can be pressed closely against the glass or
translucent plate 4 and being non-elastic or non-resilient it will not spring away
from the plate, and also by having the body portion of the character or orna-
mentation of pliable or foldable material (whether consisting of a continuous
sheet of pliable metal foil, as in Figures 1 and 2, or of separate small flakes of
pearl or its equivalent spaced apart to form intervals in which the letter or
symbol may be bent or creased, as shown in Figure 5) the device is adapted not
only to conform to the supporting-surface, but to be returned promptly and
without the use of special tools to its original flat condition after having been
distorted, folded, wrinkled, or otherwise rendered shapeless during shipment
or by reason of rough handling.
A sign character constructed as set forth does not require skilled labor in its
attachment to glass or other surface, and being of pliable and readily foldable
material a character can receive any amount of rough handling without sustain-
ing injury and can also be removed after being attached to the glass and used
again without being reembossed, crinkled, or reblocked, or stamped.
It will be seen that the marginal or extended portion of the metal backing is
arranged in a common plane with the general flat plane of the surface of the
letter or symbol, and thus combines therewith to form an extended attaching-
surface by which the security of fastening to a base, such as a transparent plate
or sheet, sattained. This prevents displacement of any of the parts of the letter
or the warping of the surface thereof to allow moisture and dust to gain access
to the exposed surface.
In this connection it should be noted that those sign characters and symbols
which embody elements having conventional shapes imparted thereto by means

page_text: of stamping devices or dies and which must retain these shapes both before and
after application to the supporting-surface are liable to be rendered useless by
rough handling for the reason that any denting or disfiguration of a smooth-
surfaced letter or symbol or one which is not particularly designed to adapt it for
bending detracts from the appearance thereof and necessitates restamping or
manipulation by means of special tools to return it to its original condition; but
by constructing the entire device of foldable material, such as foil, or constructing
the body portion of separate relatively-movable flakes attached to a pliable
backing, and particularly by providing the body portion or face of the symbol
when of foil with a crinkled or irregular surface, any bending or doubling will
only emphasize the irregularity of the face, while the marginal securing edge or
portion may be conveniently smoothed and returned to its original condition by
pressing it, for instance, against the surface of the glass or other support.
The letter or character constructed in accordance with my invention cannot
buckle, and being flat and parallel with the supporting-surface it is not liable to
be displaced or injured by means of window-brushes, &c., as in cleaning or
washing the supporting surface. The letter cannot be injured by removal from
the window or supporting-surface, a knife or other thin-bladed instrument being
inserted therebetween, and hence the same may be transferred when necessary
without altering the appearance and without involving expense other than that
of reattachment. The device embodying my invention may also be transported
with facility and without danger or injury as by mail, or otherwise, the blow of
a postal canceling-stamp upon an envelope or other package containing the letters
not having any injurious effect thereon.
In applying letters or characters to a smooth supporting surface the greatest
difficulty consists in causing a uniform contact of the flange or marginal portion
of said surface; but as said marginal portion in the improved letter is pliable
and the body of the letter can be flattened against the surface (hence not offering
any resistance to the shaping of the edge) the disadvantages of stiff or more or less
resilient letters are avoided. Furthermore, the improved letter or symbol can
be attached to curved surfaces, either convex or concave, and may be carried
around or through the angle of a show case or window, and particularly is the
letter adapted for attachment to bowed, bulged, or bent show-windows when the
lines upon which the letters are arranged are disposed obliquely to the curve of
the surface, and it will be understood that this advantage and those above named
apply equally to that form of the sign character wherein the body portion is of
metal foil and that wherein the same is made up of flakes of pearl or equivalent
material.
From the above description it will be seen that the letter or symbol embodying
my invention consists, essentially, of a pliable backing having a central depressed
portion which is separated from the supporting-surface to form a receptacle for a
display object which is also pliable or foldable and yielding in quality, whereby
the contact of a moving object with the back of the letter will not cause the
forcible distortion or buckling of the display object and the resulting separation
of the marginal portion of the backing from the supporting-surface. It should
be noted that a crinkled body portion of metal foil is practically more pliable or
less resistant than the backing, owing to the fact that it is capable of yielding
in all directions and at all points where a strain or pressure may be applied
without affecting other parts. It will be understood moreover, that various
changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages
of the invention.
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. A flat foldable composite siơn character
ornamentation

page_text: pliable metal-foil backing, depressed in one side to form a receptacle, and having
a flat extended marginal portion, bounding said receptacle, and adapted for
uniform contact with, and attachment throughout its area to, a supporting-
surface, and a display object, seated in said receptacle to fold with the backing,
and allow the device to conform to the contour of the supporting-surface, and
to return to its original shape and appearance when the backing is flattened,
substantially as specified.
2. A flat foldable composite sign letter or ornamentation, comprising a
pliable metal-foil backing, depressed in one side to form a receptacle, and having
a flat extended marginal portion bounding said receptacle, and adapted for
uniform contact with, and attachment throughout its area to, a supporting-
surface, and a display object of pliable metal-foil, seated in said receptacle to fold
with the backing, and allow the device to conform to the contour of the support-
ing-surface, and to return to its original shape and appearance when the backing
is flattened, substantially as specified.
3. A flat foldable composite sign letter or ornainentation, comprising a pliable
metal-foil backing, depressed in one side to form a receptacle, and having a flat
extended marginal portion bounding said receptacle, and adapted for uniform
contact with, and attachment throughout its area to, a supporting-surface, and a
display object of pliable crinkled metal foil, seated in said receptacle to fold
with the backing, and allow the device to conform to the contour of the support-
ing-surface, and to return to its original shape and appearance when the backing
is flattened, substantially as specified.
4. A flat foldable composite sign letter or ornamentation, comprising a pliable
metal-foil backing. depressed in one side to form a recentacle, and having a
flat extended marginal portion bounding said receptacle, and adapted for uniform
contact with, and attachment throughout its area to, a supporting-surface, and
a display obiect consisting of a letter or symbol of pliable crinkled metal foil,
scated in said receptacle with its surface flush with that of the said marginal
portion, adapted to fold with the backing, and allow the device to conform to the
contour of the supporting-surface, and to return to its original shape and
appearance when the backing is flattened, substantially as specified.
Dated this 19th day of 1100 |
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.