US3013475A - Sign - Google Patents

Description

B. SPANGLER Dec. 19, 1961 SIGN Filed Jan. 7, 1959 ATTORNEY 3,013,475 SIGN Bernard Spangler, 104 S. 56th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Jan. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 785,452 2 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) This invention relates to a sign, and more particularly to a double faced, internally illuminated sign.

Double faced, internally illuminated signs comprise a frame having a pair of spaced faces of transparent or translucent material mounted thereon. The illuminating means, such as electric light bulbs, are mounted on the frame between the faces. The frame. of such a sign should not only be of strong construction, but should also be of such a construction that it is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Also, the sign should be constructed so as to provide easy access to the illuminating means so that burnt out light bulbs can be easily replaced.

It is an object of the present invention tok provide a double faced, internally illuminated sign.

It is another object of the present invention to, provide a double faced, internally illuminated sign in which one of the faces is hingedly mounted on the frame to permit easy access to the illuminating means within the sign.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a double faced, internally illuminated sign which is of strong construction, and which is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. f

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts:

FIGURE l is a front elevation View, partially broken away, of the sign of the present invention. y

FIGURE 2 is a sec-tional view taken `along line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2..

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, the sign of the present invention is generally designated as 10.

Sign 1t) comprises an annular metal frame 12 of rectangular transverse cross-section. Frame 12 has a pair of annular flanges 14 aud 16 extending outwardly from the sides of the frame 12. The inner surfaces of the flanges 14 and 16 are flush with the inner surface of the frame 12. Frame 12 is shown to be in the form of an ellipse. However, the frame 12 can be in the for-m of a circle, rectangle, or `any other desired shape.

A pair of face mounting bands 18 and 20 are secured to the flanges 14 and 16 of frame 12. Face mounting bands 18 and 2t) are each F-shaped in transverse crosssection, and -are of the same annular shape as the frame 12.

The leg 22 of face mounting band 18 is mounted around the flange 14 of frame 12, with the outer surface of the leg 2,2 being flush with the outer surface of frame nited States Patent O 12. A plurality of circumferentially spaced screws 24 extend through the leg 22 and are threaded into the flange 14 to secure the face mounting band 18 to the rame 12. The arms 26 and 28 of the face mounting band 18 extend inwardly across the end of the flange 14. An annular gasket 3l) is compressed between the inner f. ICC

arm 28 of face mounting band 18 and the end of flange 14 to seal the face mounting baud 18 to the frame 12.

The leg 32 of face mounting band 20 is mounted around the flange 16 of frame 12, with the outer surface of leg 32 being flush with the outer surface of fra/me 12. An elongated hinge 34 extends along the top of sign 10. One strap 36 of the hinge 34 is secured to the outer surface of frame 12 by screws 3-8. Bolts 40` extend upwardly through the leg 32 of face mounting band 20 and the other strap 42 of the hingeV 34. Nuts 44 are threaded on the bolts 40 to secure the strap 42 of hinge 34 to the face mounting band 20. Thus, the face mounting band 20 is hingedly secured to the frame 12. The arms 46 and 48 of the face mounting band 20 extend inwardly across the end of flange 1x6. An `annular gasket 50 is compressed between the inner arm 48 of face mounting band 2t) and the end of flange 16 to seal the face mounting band 20 to the frame 12. A plurality of clamps 5-2 are mounted laround the outer surface of frame 12 and face mounting band 20. Clamps 52 may be of any releasable type clamp which can clamp the face mounting b-and 20 tightly to the frame Y12., but v upon being released will permit the face mounting band 20 to be swung outwardly as indicated by arrow 54 in FIGURE 2.

A face plate 56 of a transparent or translucent material, such as la plastic, is mounted across the face mounting band 18, with the edge of the face plate 56 fitting between the arms 26 and 28 of the face mounting band 18. A similar face plate 58 is mounted across the face moun-ting band Ztl with the edge of the face plate 5S fitting between the arms 46 -and'48 of the face mounting band 20'. Face plates 56 and 58 have the advertising matter painted or otherwise applied thereto.

A pair of spaced, parallel mounting posts 60 are secured to the inner surface of the frame 12. Mounting posts 60 extend vertically `across the frame v12 adjacent the ends of the frame 12.l As shown in FIGURE 5, each of the mounting posts 60 comprises a pair of` angle rods 62 and 64 secured togetherrat their ends to form a hollow post of square transverse cross-section.

, A plurality of iluorescent light tubes 66 extend horizontally between the mounting posts 60. Light tubes 66 are mounted in sockets carried by the mountingposts '60. A fluorescent light tube 68 extends vertically Ialong the outside of each of the mounting posts 60. Light tubes 68 are mounted in sockets 70 carried by the mounting posts 60. A pair of metal wiring troughs 72 are mounted between the mounting posts 60. Wiring troughs 72 carry the ballast 74 for the light tubes 66 and 68 as well as the electrical wiring to the light tube sockets.

An outlet box 76 is mounted on the inner surface of frame 12 at the bottom of the sign 10'. A conduit 78 extends between the outlet box 76 and one of the mounting posts 6() and carries the electrical wiring from the light tube sockets to the outlet box 76. Outlet box 76 has an outlet 8l) extending through the frame 12. Outlet 80 permits a cable from the source of electrical energy to be passed into the outlet box 76 Where the cable is connected to the wiring for the light tube sockets.

A folding arm support 82 is connected between the frame 12 and the face mounting band 20 at the bottom of the sign 10. Folding arm support 82 comprises an angle rod 84 and a straight rod 86. One end of the angle rod 84 is pivotably connected to one end of the straight rod 86. The other end of the angle rod 84 is pivotably mounted on a pin 88 extending from an upright wall on the outlet box 76. The other end of the straight rod 8'6 is connected to the face mounting band 2t). A locking pin 90 is secured to the folding arm support 82 by a chain 92.

When it becomes necessary to replace one of the light tubes 66 or 68 or do any other 4type of repair wonk in the sign 10, the clamps 52 are released. The face mounting band 20 is then swung outwardly from the bottom of the sign as indicated by arrow 54 in FIGURE 2 to a position shown in phantom.- in FIGURE 2. As the face mounting band is swung outwardly, the rods 84 and 86 of the folding arm support S2 are pulled outwardly with the face mounting band 20. This unfolds the rods 34 and 86 until the rods 84 and 86 are in alignment. The locking pin 90 is then inserted through aligned holes in the rods 84 and 86 to secure the rods 84 and 86 in the aligned position. Thus, the folding arm support 82 folds the face mounting band 20 away from the frame 12 so that the operator has both hands free to do whatever work is necessary Within the sign 10. When the operator completes the work within the sign, the locking pin 90 is removed, and the face mounting band 20 swung back against the frame 12. The clamps 52 are then secured to clamp the face mounting band 20 tightly to the frame 12. Thus there is provided ease of access to the interior of the sign 10.

The frame 12 of the sign 10 of the present invention is made from a single extruded strip of metal which is bent to the desired shape and the ends secured together. The face mounting bands 18 and 20 are made from identical extruded strips of metal which `are also bent to the desired shape. The mounting posts 60 are likewise made from identical strips of metal which are secured together. Thus, the sign 10 of the present invention is made of a minimum number of different parts which are easy to make and assemble, so that the sign 10 is relatively inexpensive `to manufacture.

The present invention may be embodied in other speciiie forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specication as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising an annular metal frame having annular flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame, the inner peripheral surface of said flanges being coextensive with the inner peripheral surface of said frame, a separate annular face mounting band secured around each of said anges, each of said bands including a leg mounted around its respective ange with the outer surface of the leg being substantially ush with the outer surface of the frame and a pair of arms projecting inwardly across the end of the respective flange, one of said bands being tixedly secured to the frame, the other band being hingedly secured to the top of the frame between said flanges by a hinge means, a separate faceplate of a translucent material mounted across each of said face supporting bands with the edge of the plates fitting between the arms of its respective band, iluorescent luminating means supported by posts disposed on said frame between said faceplat, an upright wall on a bottom wall of said frame substantially equidistant from the ends of said frame, said upright wall being substantially perpendicular to said plates, a folded arm support comprising a pair of rods pivotably secured together, the free end of one rod being pivotably secured to said upright wall, the free end of said other rod being pivotally secured to said other band, latch means solely on said rods for latching said support and said other band in an extended position, and latch means on said frame for latching said other band in a position substantially parallel to said one band.

2. In a sign as set forth in claim 1 wherein said posts are a pair of spaced upright posts spaced from the ends of said frame, said luminating means including a plurality of uorescent light tubes horizontally disposed between said posts, and at least one wire trough mounted between said posts, and ballast for said tubes being mounted on and supported by said trough.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,574 Dawes Feb. 17, 1914 1,361,457 Golden Dec. 7, 1920 1,604,622 Weinstein Oct. 26, 1926 2,029,221 Burgess et al. Ian. 28, 1936 2,455,020 McQuaid Nov. 30, 1948 2,543,008 French Feb. 27, 1951 2,562,553 Howenstine July 31, 1951 2,620,580 Dwindell Dec. 9, 1952 2,626,473 Howenstine Jan. 27, 1953 2,769,263 Wamser Nov. 6, 1956 2,833,069 Cairns May 6, 1958 2,879,614 Baldanza Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,774 Great Britain of June 8, 1911 746,958 Germany Sept. 1, 1944

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