US1428424A - Electric advertising sign - Google Patents

Description

0. FEHLER.

ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12, 1920.

l 28 2 v Patentedsept. 5, 1922.,

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES OTTO FEHLER, OF BERLIN-STEGLITZ, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC ADVERTISING SIGN.

Application filed October 12, 1920. Serial No. 416,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rro FEHLER, manufacturer, a citizen of the German Republic, residing at Berlin-Steglitz, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Advertising Signs (for which I have filed applications for patents in Germany on June 6, 1918, in Norway on June 30, 1920, in Sweden on June 30, 1920, in France on July 10, 1920, and in Switzerland on July 9, 1920), of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to advertising signs in which an incandescent filament is used for the purpose of constituting the legend of said sign. One of the objects of the invention is to arrange the filament so that it may be changed from time to time in order to alter the character of the legend or design.

Another object of the invention is to arrange in vacuo a series of supporting hooks for said filament of such predetermined number and arrangement that different groups of them may be' selectively chosen from time to time upon which the filament may be wound or supported in different positions in order to change the arrangement of the design constituted thereby- Still another object of the invention is to provide a rechargeable lamp in which filament supporting hooks are provided additional to those necessary for supporting the filament in a single arrangement so that when recharged the filament may be strung on a different grouping of hooks in order to change the design or legend traced by said filament.

With these ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring in detail to the drawings Figure 1 shows in perspective a view of an incandescent lamp embodying my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views of slightly modified embodiments.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rectangular lamp showing several banks of filament supporting hooks according to my invention.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 1-1, 33, H

and 2-2 respectively of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a modi fied form of my invention.

Referring in detail to the several figures, I) in Figure 1 represents a glass support either fused into one side of the glass bulb of the lamp or otherwise permanently supported. Projecting from the face of the glass support I) are a plurality of filament supporting hooks a of ordinary construction. U on a certain group of these hooks selective y chosen is' wound the filament which in thiscase takes theform of a signature, the ends of said filament being brought to the outside of the lamp in the ordinary way by being fused into a glass plug which lies within the lamp socket and maintains an air-tight relationship with the bulb.

The invention consists inthe provision of an additional number of the supporting hooks to that actually needed to carry the filament in the arrangement shown by which provision, the design outlined by the filament may be changed by rewinding said filament upon a new or di erent grouping of supporting hooks. This is intended to'be done at the factory or at some recharging station where-the lamps may be returned for the making of said change and where proper facilities are provided for so doing.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3'in which the filament supports are of larger size than the neck of the globe the globes are merely broken when the change is to be made, the. old filament removed and discarded and a new filament wound upon the proper'number or grouping of supporting hooks to give the required change in the legend. A new globe is then provided the open end of which is large enough to permit the filament support to enter and is then heated and reduced to the proper size. The saving in this case is in the re-use of the glass support I), and the supporting hooks a in their assemblage with the socket. In the case of 'a large advertising sign in which the lamp is of considerable size and a great length of filament is to be supported the economy effected by the repeated use of these parts is an important advance over the pres ent practice of discarding the entire lamp when a new design is to be effected.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 and in the details in the related Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 the lamp is represented by the rectangular glass box at which may have a removable portion not shown, preferably one end thereof, through which the construction shown within the box may be inserted or removed. The said box has molded to one side thereof a projection f which has inserted therethrough and fused thereto the leads connecting to the filaments which are designed to be strung or wound upon the filament supporting hooks 0 carried by the glass plates it.

These plates each comprise a unit similar to that shown in Figure 1 in which a number of filament supporting hooks are rovided in excess of the number required or a single arrangement of the filament, this being for the same purpose, namely to provide for new groupings for the hooks, about which the filament may be wound in differ- .ent ways in order to effect changes in the design of the legend displayed. The plates 11. are arranged one behind the other and being transparent the design may be selected for each plate with a view to its visual cooperation with the designs on the other plates.

The glass box 00 carries on its upper surface the plugs 1" which fit in a gas-tight manner into apertures in the upper surface of said box by means of which apertures air in saidbox is evacuated, by connection of said apertures to suitable apparatus.

It is contemplated that when the arrangement'of the filament is to be changed the box a; shall be taken to the factory or recharging station one or both of the plugs 1- removed and air admitted to the interior of said box before it is opened for removal of the filament. In order to prevent the powerful current of air under atmospheric pressure, which enters the box induced by the vacuum therein, from destroying the delicate filament supported on the hooks, bafiles are provided comprising the receptacles i and 11 both of which may be of identical, construction but are here shown as different for the sake of illustrating the plurality of modifications. One form of baflle i which is shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a flatreceptacle in communication at the top with the aperture closed by one of the plugs and having the side edges thereof perforated with numerous small holes for distributing the air and lessening its draft at an one point. The other form of baffle indicated by z" and shown in'detail in .Figures 7 and 8 comprises a receptacle with elongated plates secured in alternation to its upper and lower surfaces and spaced alternately therefrom providing a sinuous path which the entering air must follow before it finally emerges into the interior of the box w.

As it is contemplated that the box as when used as a display sign ma be tilted at various angles or evenrotate the trunnions g are provided for pivotally mounting it upon a suitable support.

If it is desired that the filament on the several plates 12- shall flash sequentially an ordinary periodic switch may be provided for distributing the current to the respective filaments in the desired order.

Should the glass box he of considerable size it will be necessary to provide inside bracing to prevent collapsing ofsaid box under pressure of the atmosphere. To this end the plate 6 is introduced into said box where it is supported on edge in a'position to receive the compression stresses due to atmospheric pressure.

Although I have thus described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is evident, that those skilled in the arts to which this relates may make various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. c

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutes the legend, comprising a lamp, a plurality of filament supporting hooks in said lamp, said hooks being of greater number than are required for the support of the filament in a single position of arrangement.

2. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutes the legend, a lamp, a plurality of filament supporting hooks of a number greater than that required for a single arrangement of the filament, said hooks being of such predetermined number and arrangement that differcomprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent filament supports mounted therein and in superposed relation relative to the line of vision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of said supports, the number of said hooks-being in excess of the number required for a single arrangement of the filaments.

5. An incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutes the legend, comprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent filament supports mounted therein and in superposed relation relative to the line of vision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of said supports, the number of said hooks being in excess of the number required for a single arrangement of the filaments and means for devacuizing said' lamp.

6. An'incandescent advertising sign in which the filament constitutes the legend comprising a lamp, a plurality of transparent supports carried by said lamp and in superposed'relation relative to the line of vision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of said supports, the number of said supporting hooks being in excess of the number required for a single arrangement of the filament, a devacuizing valve for said lamp and an air distributing baffle arranged intermediate said valve and said filament supports.

7. An incandescent advertising sign in which thefilament constitutes the legend comprising a lamp, a plurality of trans arent supports carried by said lamp an in superposed relation relative to the line of vision, a plurality of filament supporting hooks carried by each of said supports, the number of said supportin hooks being in excess of the number requ red for a single arrangement of the filaments, a devacuizing plug for said lamp and an air distributing baflie arranged intermediate said plug and said filament supports and means for reinforcing the walls of said lamp against atmospheric pressure.

In testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'o'r'ro FEHLER. Witnesses:

EDWARD LANGHOFF, FANSS GEHMIEDEKE.

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