US593433A - Nolds - Google Patents

Description

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Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM WV. REYNOLDS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,433, dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed February 15, 1897. Serial No. 623,910. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. REY- NOLDS, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sign,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in signs which will make them visible both by night and by day and through a-larger angle than the ordinary fixed signs.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of construction of the sign; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The sign consists, essentially, of a hollow body having the face next to the observer formed of opaque material and of a light-absorbing or dark color and having the characters of the sign out through the same. It also has a background located within or back of the surface which is toward the observer, and which is of a light-reflecting color or material. This sign is to be illuminated at night by lamps placed within the sign, but invisible directly from the outside. The illumination is to be by reflected light from the background. I

In the drawings the outer wall of the sign is represented by A and the background by B. The outer wall, or the surface toward the observer, as shown in Fig. 1, has the letters H. O. outlined thereon. These are outlined in white paint or other light-colored material and have a series of openings E cut through the wall to the interior. These openings E, as shown in the drawings, are circular and are arranged closely together, in themselves outlining the letters. The surfaces F which lie within the outlines of the letters and between the circles E are, as stated, painted white or otherwise made so that they will reflect the light readily. The background B has its surface painted white or otherwise prepared so that it will reflect the light readily.

This sign, as seen at a distance in the daytime, will appear to be a solid block letter, the circles E not showing, as the background will be of the same color as the surface F lying between the circles.

The interior of the sign is provided with lamps L, so arranged that they are not di-' rectly visible from the outside and so that they will cast their light upon the background B. At night this sign will appear as a series of illuminated circles arranged so as to outline the letters or characters of the sign. The

light issuing from the circles E will be that reflected from the background B.

The sign shown in the drawings is one which is adapted to be mounted upon a central pivot D and to be turned thereon by the influence of the wind. It is provided for this purpose with a vane, the inner portion of which is shown at G. The body of the sign is made long and comparatively narrow. This body portion might be mounted a little to one side of the center, and thus do away with the vane. The pivot D is mounted in a tower H or any other suitable device for holding it erect. The lower portion is floored and is provided with openings I in its bottom, so that the water which enters in rain or snow storms may pass freely out. Strips J are also provided for deflecting the water toward these openings. This prevents water getting into the bearing upon which the sign turns and the possibility of the bearing being frozen up in cold weather, so that the sign cannot turn. It is not necessary in broadly carrying out my invention that it be mounted to turn as described. My invention may be embodied in signs substantially of any form-as, for instance, rectangular-or made to surround square chimneys or to cover any form of surface desired.

The central feature of my invention is the hollow sign having a light-reflecting background and an opaque wall located in front thereof, through which the characters of the sign are out.

In case it is so desired the entire surface of the letters may be cut out of the face of the sign, so that they will appear the same day or night. The plan described of cutting out circles within the letters and painting the remaining parts white makes a sign which varies in its appearance night and day.

Having thus described my invention, I

f the rear Wall of the sign being of a light-re-' claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 4 1. A sign, consisting of a hollow body having a light-absorbing outer face withthe signcharacters outlined thereon by a light-reflecting material and having a series of closelyadjaeent holes through theouter face of the body of each character, and the front face of fleeting character, substantially as described.

2. A sign, consisting of a hollow body having a light-absorbing outer face with the signcliaracters outlined thereon by a light-reflecting material and having a series of closelyadjacent holes through the outer face of the body'of each character, and the front face of the rear wall of the sign being of a light-reflecting character, and means for illuminating the interior of the sign, substantially as described. Y

3 A sign, consisting of a hollow body having a central longitudinal partition, the sides of which are provided with a light-reflecting surface, the outer face of the body or case having a light-absorbing surface with the sign-characters outlined thereon by a lightreflecting material and having a series of contiguous holes through the outer walls Within the characters, and means for illuminating the interior of the sign by night whereby the characters appear with a solid body by day and are outlined by the perforations at night, substantially as described. v

4. A- sign, consisting of a hollow body mounted to turn upon a vertical pivot, a vane attached thereto to control its position; said body or case having a central longitudinal partition, the sides of which are provided with a light-reflecting surface, the outer face of the body or case having a light-absorbing surface with the sign-characters outlined thereon by a light-reflecting material and having a series of contiguous holes through the outer walls within the characters, and means for illuminating the interior of the sign by night whereby the characters appear with a solid body by day and are outlined by the perforations by night, substantially as described. I

5. A sign, consisting of a hollow body mounted to turn upon a vertical pivot, a vane attached thereto to controlits position, said body or case having a bottom sloping toward the pivot and provided With drainage-outlets and deflecting-strips which prevent water from entering the pivot, having also a central longitudinal partition, the sides of which are provided with a light-reflecting surface, the outer face of the body or case having a lightabsorbing surface and with the sign-characters outlined thereon by a light-reflecting material and having a series of adjacent holes through the outer wallswithin the characters, and means for illuminating the interior of the sign, substantially as described.

6. A sign consisting of a hollow body, a case having a central longitudinalpartition, the sidesof which are provided with a light-reflecting surface, the outer face of the body or case having a light-absorbing surface with the sign-characters outlined thereon by a light-reflecting material and having a series of holes through the outer walls and within the characters, means for illuminating the interior of the sign at night, a vertical pivot'for supporting said case, a vane attached to the case to control its position, a bottom for said case sloping toward the pivot and provided with drainage-outlets and deflecting-strips for carrying off water and a hood attached to the pivot-post above the bottom of the case and protecting the pivot-bearing, substantially as described.

'7. A sign consisting of ahollow body which provides a chamber, the front of the body having letters or other characters delineated thereon and orificed, the orifices being dis posed in correspondence with the delineated letters, the back of the chamber having a surface in consonance with the lettered front, the said surface appearing through the apertures and presenting with the front surface practically continuous letters, the chamber of the body, in front of its back surface having lamps serving to illuminate the chamber at night so that the apertures. form illuminated letters, substantially as described.

\VILLIAM W. REYNOLDS.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. HENLEY, H. L. REYNOLDS.

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