Improvements in or connected with Electrically Illuminated Signs, Advertisements, Signal Lamps, and the like Devices.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electrically Illuminated Signs,
Advertisements, Signal Lamps, and the like Devices.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, a communication to me from Almon Dobbins Page, and Edwin Joseph
McAllister both residing at 68 Park Place, Newark, in the County of Essex and
State of New Jersey in the United States of America, Inventors, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon :-
This invention relates to improvements in or in connection with electrically
illuminated signs or similar devices for exhibiting words, numbers or devices, for
advertising and other purposes, the sign or device being made up of separate parts
or characters, for example, letters or numbers, and each letter or number being
preferably independent of other letters or numbers, the outlines of the letters,
numbers or characters being made by electric lamps arranged in suitable order on
a supporting body. A holder is provided, in or on which the letters or other
characters can be supported in any desired order. Means may also be provided
for flashing some or all of the lamps making up the sign, for calling attention
thereto. The invention consists in the devices hereinafter more fully described,
comprising the improved universal sign and applicable to advertisements, signal
lamps and the like devices.
In the accompanying drawings:
:-
Figure 1. is a face view of a board or holder having an arbitrary sign consisting
of the letters A B C and the numerals 5, 7,.9 set up thereon;
Figure 2. is a plan of Figure. 1.
Figure 3. is a section on line x-x of Figure 1.
Figure 4. is a section, on a corresponding line, of a slightly modified form;
Figure 5. is a face view of a different style of letter, the lamps being omitted
except at one point, for simplicity of illustration.
Figure 6 is a cross section, on line x-a of Figure 5, looking in the direction
indicated by the arrow, and on a larger scale;
Figure 7. is a view, on a larger scale than Figure 5, of a section of the letter
showing a hand hole therein;
Figure 8 is a view of a washer to be described;
Figure 9, is an 'end view of a preferred form of circuit changer;
Figure 10 is a side view of a dise or body used in the circuit-changer;
Figure 11 is a view at right angles to Figure 9, showing also circuits controlled
by the circuit-changer; and
Figure 12 is a view of a detail to be described.
1 is a
The preferred form of holder and sign is shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
board or frame, around the edges of which are strips 2, 3 carrying on their inner sides
mouldings 4, and in the space between the mouldings and the board 1 along two
sides of the board are metal strips 5, 6 which serve as conductors and which are
connected to the terminal posts 7,8 adapted to be connected to any suitable source
of current.
The boards or sections 9 of which the sign is made up are provided with lamp
sockets having terminal sleeves 11 and central contacts 12, as common in the well
known Edison form of socket, or the sections may be provided with terminals
arranged as in other forms of socket when another style of lamp than the Edison
is to be used, and in these sockets are mounted electric lamps 13.
.

page_text: "
On each section the sockets, which may be of proper size to receive miniature
lamps, or which may be of any desired size, are arranged in such order that
they form the outline of one of the letters of the alphabet, or of a numeral or
other desired device.
In Figure 3 the sockets are shown in holes in the boards 9. In the back of the
boards 9 are preferably formed grooves 14, and in these grooves are wires 15, 16
extending from the spring 17 on the end of the boards to the first socket sleeve
and from the first socket central terminal to the succeeding socket sleeve, and so
on, to the spring or contact device at the opposite end of the board.
The springs 17 at the top and bottom of the boards or sections 9 make electrical
contact with the conductors 5, 6 and also guide and steady the plates. 10 are
spacing boards adapted to be inserted in the track formed by the mouldings 4 at the
ends or between the character sections, and are similar in shape to the boards 9, on
which the letters or figures of which the sign is composed are mounted. The
spacing plates may or may not have springs corresponding to springs 17 for the
purpose of holding them in place.
In Figure 1 the circuit connections are indicated at the letter C only, but it will
be understood that each section of the sign has corresponding circuit connections.
In the arrangement illustrated the small circles illustrate the lamps, and each letter
and numeral is composed of a number of lamps which is a multiple of eight, the
lamps being connected to the conductors 5,6 in multiple series of eight. The
number of lamps in each letter or figure might be a multiple of four, six or other:
suitable number, but there should be uniformity in all the sections.
By forming the letters as just described, all parts of the sign will have the same
degree of illumination when the sign is in use.
When the proper number of lamps cannot be arranged in positions where they
are needed in the formation of a character, or when desired, they can be put. on:
to constitute ornamentations, as indicated at 18 Figure 1.
When it is desired to change the sign the end 19 of the holder, which is hinged
at 20 and has a securing device 21, is turned down, as shown, and the parts con-
stituting the old sign are removed, when said parts can be rearranged in any desired
manner, or other sections substituted, the lamps being thrown into circuit by mere:
insertion of the sections into the holder.
In Figure 4 the boards 9 are shown considerably thinner than in Figure 3 and
covered with an ornamental cloth or other layer 22 on which sockets 23 are secured
to form the outline of characters, the wires 15, 16 being connected to the terminals
thereof as already described. In this figure also the springs 17 are shown wider
than the boards 9 so as to occupy the whole width of the grooves formed by the
mouldings 4 and thus to guide and secure the plates as well as to make contact
with the conductors 5, 6. To prevent warping of the supporting board or frame,
cleats 24 may be set into the back thereof as shown.
Signs made as described are adapted for use in a large variety of situations,
and the manufacturers by keeping on hand a small stock of letters and numerals
will be able to quickly furnish signs indicating any desired name or number..
It will be clear that the arrangement of the contact springs on the boards or
sections 9, as well as the construction and arrangement of the sockets for the
lamps; and of some of the other parts of the apparatus, can be largely varied
without departing from the present invention.
Instead of providing a holder of the character described, and forming the
outlines of the letters or characters on rectangular boards, as in Figure 1, the
lamps may be supported as in Figure 5, forming the outlines of the letters, or
characters by arranging electric lamps on boxes or bodies having the form of said.
letters or characters.
In carrying out this part of the invention it is preferred to make sheet metal or
other boxes or bodies, in the form of the letters or characters desired, a letter E
being shown in the drawing, this letter being taken merely as an illustration.. In
practice compléte alphabets with duplicate letters will be provided so that any

page_text: desired words can be set up. Numerals and other characters will also be provided.
These letters or characters can be supported side by side to form words, &c., by
any suitable means, each letter being preferably separately removable. It is
preferred for this purpose to provide rods or pipes a, supported at a distance apart
about equal to the length of the letters, and to secure hooks b, c adapted to fit onto
said rods or pipes, to the letters at the top and bottom as shown. 1. 2. 3 Figure 6
are the sides or walls of a sheet metal box or casing forming a character,
3 preferably being a removable cover. Around the casing, on a line with the
outer edges of the sides 2, are placed wooden strips 4, and to these strips the cover
is secured by thumb-screws or other devices 5 and washers 6. The strips also
serve to strengthen the box.
Between the cover and the strips 4 are placed rubber or other suitable packing
strips S to make a tight joint, and, if desired, the cover may be bent so as to
overlap the sides 2. The cover is provided with as many holes 7 as there are
to be lamps to form the outline of the character. The cover illustrated has fourteen
such holes; if the character were a period, for example, a single hole only would
be necessary.
On the outside of the cover, over each of these holes, is placed a sheet metal
shield 8, this being preferably semi-circular, as shown in Figure 5, and having a
flange 9 soldered or otherwise secured to the cover. The shield, preferably, is
large enough so that a lamp L can be screwed into place without actually touching
it, and projects forward over or beyond the largest diameter of the lamp globe. On
the inside of the cover, around the holes 7, are placed tapering sleeves 10, preferably
having inwardly curved ends in which are openings 11 for the passage of the bases
of lamps. The lower part of each sleeve forms a channel below the lamp by which
water which finds its way in thus far will be conducted to the outside of the box.
It is evidently not necessary that this device should be a complete sleeve, although
that form is preferred. In line with these openings 11 are an equal number of
insulating blocks 12 carrying sockets and cut-outs of usual or suitable construction,
the bases 13 of the lamps screwing or otherwise fitting into said sockets, being
thereby connected to the wires + of the supply circuit. On the lower part of
-
the lamp globe but above the lamp base is or may be placed a tapering sheet metal
sleeve 14, with a flaring end 15. This sleeve is secured in place on the lamp by a
suitable cement such as litharge. Instead of the sleeve 14 a flexible asbestos or
other washer W fitting onto the neck of the lamp may be used, and in some cases
neither of these devices may be necessary.
When the parts described are put together so that they occupy the relative
positions shown in Figure 6, the lower portions of the lamps, the sockets and
all of the circuit connections are tightly enclosed and protected within the water
tight boxes or casings comprising the letters or characters. Any water that falls
onto the lamps will drop off without running into the casing, and if rain should be.
driven under the shields 8 by the wind, it will not pass into the box far enough to
do injury.
The covers or outer sides of the boxes or casings on which the lamps are
arranged will, preferably, be suitably colored, so that they can be utilized as
ordinary signs during the daytime, and the lamps will, preferably, be of the same
color as said covers or sides, for example, the covers may be painted red, and the
lamp globes tinted red. In this manner, the signs are made visible and of attractive
appearance both during the day, and when illuminated, at night.
Since the shields 8 only cover the upper portions of the globes, they do not
obstruct light in such manner as to detract from the brilliancy of the sign when
seen from the front or from below as is usually the case, and if seen from above
enough of each lamp projects to be plainly visible.
By inserting the lamp bases into the boxes and allowing the spherical part of
the globes only to project, the appearance of the letters is much improved.
The circuit connections used may be of any desired character, but when ordinary
16 candle power lamps are used they will generally be used in simple multiple arc:

page_text: when miniature lamps are used they may be connected in multiple series as shown
in Figure 1..
The preferred circuit connections for large lamps are indicated in Figure 7, in
which 16 is a supply circuit connected to the wire in the letter through ordinary
cut-out devices, as indicated at 17. 18 is a hand hole through which the cut-out
block 17 can be reached. The cover 19 is in place in Figure 5 but is removed in
Figure 7.
While it is preferred to make an entire letter of one box, this is not essential.
Some of the features described may be used without having the boxes in the form
of letters or characters, as will be evident without detailed description.
If desired, the lights, constituting or illuminating the signs or similar devices,
may burn constantly while the sign is in use, but it is preferred, in some cases, to
flash the lights at intervals, and this may be done by the mechanism shown in
Figures 9 to 12. In these figures, 1 are standards or supports, each preferably
having a central and two laterally extending arms, the fornier supporting a central
shaft 2, which may be rotated in any suitable manner, for example, by a crank
such as shown, although it would generally be driven by a motor, and the latter
arms each supporting two stationary rods 3. On the shaft 2 is secured 'thie
mechanism of one or more circuit-changers, each consisting, essentially, in the form
illustrated, of an insulating disc or body 4, fixed on the shaft 2, for example, by the
set screw 5 passing through.the metal hub 6 secured to said disc. The disc is;
preferably, stepped at two diametrical points 7, as indicated in Figure 10, and on
the two semi-circumferences extending from 7 to 7 are conducting strips or
sections 8, 8. At either side of the body 4 is a disc or plate 9, 10, loose on the
ghaft, which are of the same shape and each of which carries a contact device 11; 12;
adapted to bear on the conducting sections 8, 8', and to which contact devices the
circuits to be controlled are connected. Said contact devices are carried by arms 13,
insulated from the discs 9, 10 by insulating bushings 14. In the peripheries of the
discs 9, 10 are formed notches 15, in which the detent pawls or stops 16 are adapted
to engage to hold said discs and their contact devices in the positions to which
they are adjusted. Said pawls or detents are supported in yokes 17, which are
mounted on the side rods 3 at points in line with the discs. 18 are springs, normally
holding the pawls forward but allowing the same to be withdrawn when it is desired
to adjust the contact devices.
In Figure 11, 19 is a supply circuit, extending from any suitable generator (not
shown) and constituting a source of supply for the translating devices, which may
be for example, the lamps illuminating or forming the sign. The wires 21, 22
extend respectively to the two brushes 11, 12 one of said wires being interrupted
and connected to the posts 7, 8 Figure 1 (this latter connection not being shown).
In practice, these will be flexible conductors and so supported as not to prevent
movement of the discs 9, 10. If desired, another series of lamps, which may or
may not form a part of the same sign, may be controlled by the same circuit-
changer, for example, by connecting such devices in a branch 23, shown in dotted
lines.
At the right of the figure is shown another series of lamps, 20¹, the circuit of
which is connected to the contact devices of the second circuit-changer, shown on
the same shaft 2, although this is not essential. In this circuit-changer, "the
brush 11 is left in the same position which it occupies in Figure 9, and at the
circuit-changer at the left in Figure 11, while the disc 10 has been turned on
the axis 2 to carry the contact brush 12 down, so that in the position shown, the
brush 12 rests on the section 8', while brush 11 rests on section 8:
.
It is evident that when both brushes rest on the same conducting section, & or 8',
the circuit of the translating devices will be closed, but when one brush rests on
section 8 and the other rests on section 8', the circuit will be opened, and also that
when the distance between the contact brushes or devices is varied by withdrawing
the pawl 16 and moving one of the dises 9, 10, or by withdrawing both pawls.G
and moving both discs, the length of time during which both brushes will remain
.1
•
TV

page_text: on the same conducting section as the disc 4 rotates, will be correspondingly
varied. If the brushes bear on the disc at points 180° apart, the circuit will
never be closed, since one brush will snap onto section 8 just as the other snaps
onto section 8'.
The nearer together the brushes bear on the sections 8, 81, the longer will the
circuit remain closed. By changing the speed of rotation of the disc the periods
of the circuit changes will be further varied.
The number of circuit-changers used can be increased indefinitely. The number
necessary will depend on the number of circuits to be changed at different
intervals, since, as above indicated, one circuit-changer can serve to simultaneously
control several circuits or branches in which the changes are to be made at the
same rate. While both contact devices are described as adjustable, and while this
construction is preferred, since it is sometimes more convenient to adjust the two
devices through 90° each or less, than to adjust one contact device alone through
a larger arc, it is not essential that both be adjustable; neither is it essential that
both of the conducting sections 8, 8' be employed, although both are desirable.
The form of the body 4, carrying the conducting sections, is immaterial, so long
as said sections are in such position that the contact devices can make and break
contact therewith in the manner described when there is relative motion between
said body and contact devices. This circuit changer can be used for other purposes,
for example, to flash signal lamps at suitable intervals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sign, advertisement or similar device, having several characters the outlines
of which are formed of, or illuminated by, electric lamps, which characters may
be placed in a desired order and connected to a circuit, the characters being
preferably removeable and interchangeable, so that any desired sign can be set up.
2. A sign or similar device, having a holder and several characters formed of,
or illuminated by, electric lamps, supported in said holder and connected to a
suitable supply circuit, said lamps preferably being connected to the supply circuit
by the act of placing them in the holder.
3. A sign made up of characters or sections, each character or section being
formed of such a number of electric lamps that the lamps on the separate sections
can all be connected in equal groups to a supply circuit.
4. Letters or characters for making signs or similar devices, consisting of sheet
metal boxes which may be in the form of such letters or characters, and having
openings in a side or cover thereof, with lamps mounted in said openings in suitable
sockets, and means for preventing entrance of water into the boxes, the boxes, also,
preferably having a hand-hole through which admission may be had to cut-out
devices in the boxes.
5. A box in the form of a letter or character and adapted for use alone or with
other letters or characters, as indicated, and incandescent electric lamps carried
by said box and arranged thereon to form the outline of the same letter or
character.
6. A circuit-changer for flashing lamps forming signs, and for other purposes,
having contact devices, the distance between which can be varied at will, a body
having a conducting section against which said contact devices are adapted to
bear, and means for producing relative motion between said contact devices and
said body, whereby the circuit can be changed and the frequency of the changes
can be varied.