Improvements in Luminous Advertising Inscriptions, Signs, and Devices.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1895-Accepted. 16th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Luminous Advertising Inscriptions, Signs,
and Devices.
I ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD of 150 Holland Road Kensington London W.
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
follows:-
De as
The nature of this invention is to render luminous advertising inscriptions, signs
and devices more effectual in arresting and sustaining the attention by causing the
luminous appearance to rapidly pulsate or flicker.
"
When the source of light used is electric (this invention being specially applicable
to electrically illuminated advertising devices), I may cause the electric current to
be rapidly interrupted or made rapidly intermittent, this being applicable to either
that which is known as arc or "incandescent" light, or as an auxiliary or
alternative method, 1 provide that an entirely or partially opaque substance
intermittently intercepts the light. This device would conveniently take the form
of a revolving or rapidly moving screen or shutter, which screen or shutter, may be
provided with one or more openings or slots. These methods are of course
applicable to any source of light.
P A
1 1001
Improvements in Luminous Advertising Inscriptions, Signs,
and Devices.
I ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD of 150 Holland Road London, W. Electrical
Engineer, 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 nature of this invention is to render luminous advertising inscriptions signs
and devices more effectual in arresting and sustaining the attention, by causing the
luminous appearance to rapidly pulsate or Hicker. This device is mainly intended
to be used in conjunction with the electrical advertising apparatus described in a
former Patent granted to me, numbered 7094 of the year 1890, in which luminous
devices for the purpose of advertisement are produced, by using the electric light
behind coloured glass and transparent devices. The required rapid interruption or
pulsation, may either be produced by rapidly interrupting the electric current which
feeds the electric lamps, or it may be produced by the rapid motion of an opaque or
partially opaque shutter or screen, intercepting the light. For various technical
reasons I consider the latter preferable, and now proceed to describe a convenient
device for carrying the latter method into effect, although I do not confine myself
to the particular details of construction described.
Referring to the drawings hereto Fig. 1 is a cross section, and Fig. 2 a front
elevation, of a luminous advertising sign or hoarding, fitted with a convenient form

page_text: of device for producing pulsations of light; the same letters refer to the same
parts in both drawings:
-
A A are incandescent electric lamps, or other source of light, B B reflecting
back of case, C transparent front of case bearing inscription or other device to be
displayed as a luminous advertisement, D D small shutter or screen referred to
which may be pivoted or mounted on a shaft E, supported on brackets and
bearings F over each lamp or group of lamps, and in such a position as to intercept
the light on its path from the source to the luminous advertisement, which is
lighted by reflection from the back B. Slots or apertures may be provided in the
screens or shutters D in order to increase the effect, or produce varied effects.
The shutters or screens D are caused to revolve at the required speed to produce
the pulsating effect desired, which pulsations may be at the rate of about eight
per second.
These shutters which intercept, or interrupt the light, above referred to, may be
driven by any of the existing types of small power motors, which being articles of
commerce require no detailed description. Small motors are preferable for this
purpose to using the heat arising from the lamps, as a means of revolving the light
interrupting shutters above referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
intention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The rapid pulsation or flickering of the light or luminous effect in illuminated
advertising devices, by suitable methods and apparatus as a means of rendering
the same more effectual in arresting and sustaining the attention.
2. The method and apparatus for producing pulsation or flickering of the light
in illuminated advertising devices substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
A. RENÉ UPWARD.