US2190426A - Display sign - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1940. J HUTCH-INSON 2,190,426

DISPL'AY SIGN Filed April 1, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 rmss INVENTOR I .fob Jfu'tchznsofi/ Feb. 13, 1940. J. HUTCHINSQN 2,190,426

' DISPLAY SIGN Filed April 1, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR wrmasszs J66 J51 Zeh/ Lnson I BY Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES II DISPLAY S IGN I I Job-Hutchinson, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Visual Merchandiser, Inez, New York, N. Y., a I corporation. of New York Application April l, 193.9, sensin 265,431

6 Claims.

ture' being such that it will function, continuously as long as the power is turnedon and the sign 1| members will be successivelybrought opposite the window and held stationary for a given length of time and then moved outof the way. I

An additional and more; specific object is to provide a. display sign which occupies comp r 20 ti-vely'small space and, at, the same time, presents numerous independent sign members to view. in succession, the structure beingsuch. that, during .the functioning of, the sign the signmemberswill 1' be brought in succession opposite a position tobe viewedgand' then movedina path out; of sight until all the sign membershavebeen exposed to. View,

after which the operation is" repeated. once or I more times as desired.

Another objectof' the invention is to provide a m display sign whereinv sign members may be b zought successively to view. in back of a window -.and in, frontof illuminating devices, whereby the I successive signs. may; be illuminated'both While they. are stationary in front .ofi'the window andas 5.; they are, moving to. that position and from; that position. I V

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view through Fig. 4 approxi- :mately .011 the line l-ls, illustrating the mecha- 4 n nismain-elevation and the casing in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through Fig. 1 approxi- I mately on the line 2-2, -certain parts being omitted from the view for the purpose of clear- -ness; I

a Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2lbut showing the :parts in a different position; I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal s'ectionalview-through Fig. 1. approximately on the line 4-4;

Fig. 5 is;a sectional view on an enlargedscaleof the lower part of the mechanism shown in- Fig. 2 and illustratingall the .cletailparts in their roletive positions; I

Ei-gi, 6'is afragmentaizy perspective view of I one end of a sign member or sheettogether. with the 55 parts connect dthereto;

Fig; 7 isa perspective view of riot-tor the roll-shown in'Fig fig, I

8' is a detail. fragmentary"perspective View of a blockadap-ted tofit into-the structure. shown I in Fig, '7, together withoneendfof thepullingibar 5 shown inFig. 6; g VI Fig. .9 is a perspective view-{of one endof the plate adapted. to, be connected-with the structure shown in Fig. '7 for holding the block of Fig.;8';in correctopposite position; I

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view throughv Fig. 1 approximately on the line Mia-10 Fig. 11- is a fragmentary sectional, view illustrating thev sign moving chain and gearing associated therewith; I

Fig. l2;isa view similar to-Fig. 3. but showing a slightlymodified construction. I I

Referringto the accompanying drawings by numerals, l indicatesa'easing of'any desired kind,

one end. of. a car,

asfor; instance, metal. This casing is preferably I rectangular and the parts secured together in any desired manner. At. the front, 'howeventhecas- 1 ing isprovided with a window fl-which-may-becon- I .nected to the front wall. 3, which -fr.ont wall may be wood or other suitable material withoutdeiparting: from the spiritof: the invention. Arranged interiorly of; thecasing l are, supporting plates 4 and 5-which=extend from thetop to-the bottom of thecasing and which may bewelded or otherwise rigidlysecured to the casing; These '30 supports arev preferably metal, athough--they-; could be made of WOOdand if madeof Wood they may. be secured in anyHsuitable inannerto the casing, as for instance by screws,;braekets,.or the like. The supporting plates t and 5 areadaptedto carry or supportgall the mechanism except the motor 6 and associated parts, asshown in Fig. 1;, which are supported on a platform .7. carried-by brackets'fi secured. to the bottomv o f-I the casinggl in any desired manner. 'lfhe motorrfi. is prefers ably anelectricmotor and may. be connected to a source of current in any desired. manner. As I shown in Fig. 1, a receptacle-9 is provided whiohis adapted to feed. current not only-to-themotor: but todamps lilas hereinafterfullyzdescribed. Qurrentpassing through the receptacle. Q must pass j through what may betermedamaster'switch H and from-this switchtheournentfiows toauxiliary' switches l2 and 1.3. Theauxiliaryswitch l-2.con.-

trols the current to-the lamps Lil while the auxiliary switch It controls the currenttomotor .6. If, desired, a. resistance l4 could be provided tween the switch l3 and motor 6.

The. motor 6' is. connected/through any suitable form of-clutch. .l5i to agear. reducin strucand the numerals in secured by screws or other means, a bracket which clamps the bar MI rigidly in place. desired, the bar Ml could be welded or otherwise ture it of any desired kind and this gear reducing structure has a driving shaft 1'! extending therefrom on which the sprocket I8 is mounted and towhich it is rigidly secured. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 10, the sprocket wheel l8 carries a chain l9 'which passes over sprocket wheel-2E The sprocket wheel 2!] is rigidly secured to shaft 2| so as to rotate shaft 2! and respective sprockets 22. secured thereto. As illustrated in Fig. 4, there are two sprockets 22 and these sprockets accommodate the respective chains 23 and 24, which chains pass overv the respective sprocket wheels 25 adjacent the top of the machine. As illustrated particularly in Fig. 2, each of the sprocket chains 23 and 2:1 is provided with a special link 25 which is formed with a lug or abutment 2? in position to strike the respec-' tive blocks 28. As shown in Fig. 4, there are two blocks 28 and the parts are so set and proportioned that the lugs Z'I on the respective chains will simultaneously strike the respective blocks for raising the same. Each of the blocks 28, as shown in Fig, 8, is provided with a notch 29 for accommodating the end of the stretching or pulling rod 30 and with an aperture or bore 3| for accommodating the end of a rod 32 connected to a roller 33.- All the rollers 33 and associated parts are identical so that a description of one will apply to all.

The roller 33 is in the nature of an ordinary curtain roller but without pawls. As shown in Fig. 4, this roller is provided with a casing 34 connected with suitable end members 35. A coil spring 35 is arranged within the casing 34 and positioned to rotate casing 34 for a sign sheet 3'! thereon when permitted to do so. The sign sheets or members 31 may be formed of paper, cloth, or other flexiblematerial. On these flexible 'membersrare printed or otherwise mounted advertisements or any form of sign desired. Normally the partsare wound, as shown particularly at the right-hand part of Fig. 5 and also in Fig. 6.

As both sides of the mechanism interior of the supporting plates 4 and 5 are the same, a descrip- "tion of one'side will apply to both. For the purpose of description, the assemblage indicated by the numeralBB in-Fig. 5 will be called a sign group. This group consists of rollers 33, sign sheet or member 3?, spring 36, rod 32, block 28,

fitting 39 as shown in Fig. 7, transverse bar 40, and retaining plate 4|. The illustration in Figs. 6-156 '9 is the same at bothsides of the machine these figures are adapted to be used at both sides of the machine.

The. fitting 39 is substantially U-shaped, as shown in Fig. 4, and in addition is provided with a cutout 42 into which block 28 fits. On the under portion d3, as shown in Fig. 7, there is 44 If secured to fitting 39. As illustrated in Fig. 1, suitable screws 45} hold the respective brackets in place. Journal pins or screws 46 and G6 are screwed into the end 4! of bracket or fitting 39 and these screwscarry the respective rollers 48 and-49. Rollers 48 and 59 travel in an endlesspath 50 (Fig. 4). The path 50 is formed by a channel iron 5! which, if desired, may be proyided with a flange 52 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the supporting plate 5. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6,the channel iron 5| has a pair of parallel sides an'd' arc-shaped ends, one of the sides being positioned near the front wall 3. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, there are a large number of sign group 38 and all of these groups are constructed identically with the respective rollers 48 and 49 thereof fitting into the respective channel irons 5i and El. Referring again to the fitting 3! it is to be understood that change one of the sign sheets 3?, the plate 53 adjacent the sign sheet is removed and then the v respective blocks 28 are removed. The sign sheet is then removed and a new one provided, if desired, and then the other parts replaced.

The various sign groups have their rollers 8 and Q9 positioned in the respective runways 5B and tend toautomatically move downwardly by reason of gravity. However,,means have been provided as hereinafter fully described whereby the various sign-groups are held against movement by gravity until properly released, and this release merely releases one sign group at a time.

As shown in. Fig. 2, the flanges forming the respective runways St at the front arecut away.

A friction plate 54 on each side of window 2 is provided-and normally functions to holdthe sign groups 38 in their lower position.v Springs 56 and 67 carried by the the casing I act to force the respective friction plates 54 to the position shown inFig. 2, whereby the curved end 68 at'the bottom holds the sign group from rising and the.

lug 6d at the top holds the upper sign group I from moving downwardly. At the rear of the casing the respective runways have their innerv flanges 5?) offset 'rearwardly to permit the respective friction somewhat but not completely.

At the bottom of the runways 50, as shown'in Fig. 2, there is provided a toothed member having a number of teeth plates 5&- at the-rear to press against the various rollers 68 and 48 to resist the of gravity.

and 39.. In this way the various sign-groups are supported, I I

5% spaced apart prop.

erly to readily straddle one roller from each of two adjacent sign groups.

shown in Fig. 2.

As illustrated in'Fig. I 2, the. rollers 48 and 49 are in one sign gross; while rollers 18a. and 490, are in the next sign] group. The toothed wheel 55 rotates as indicated I v by the arrow 5'! so that as soon as the particular sign group 38' shownin Fig; 2 is moved upwardly- I from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that showr in Fig. 3, or farther upwardly, the next sign I group 38 will be immediately raised to the posi-; tion formerly occupied by the sign group BSQas'I This raising movement is caused by the downward movement of the various signj groups held partly by thefriction of rear plate] 5t. To help the friction plate 5s support the sign.

groups, the roller 190, will :strike the tooth 56 9f,

wheel55 next to the left, as shown in Fig. 2,;andf

will be preventedfrom further movement except? 1 This toothed as the toothed wheel 55-moves.

as" the machine functions. toothedwheel 55,;it will be observedthatth same is'rigidly connected to a shaft 58 and, a s

Concerning the shown in Figs. 4 and 11, shaft 5-58 is rigidly secured to a large 'gearwheel 58 which continually meshes with a smallpinion B0 rigidly secured to a gear."

6|, which latter gear'is" continually in 11118811;

in Fig. 3, the sign group will be moved upwardly at the same rate thattherespective chains 23 and 24 move. In a short time the sign group will reach the upper end of its travel and as it moves upwardly it will pull the sign sheet 3?, as shown at the left in Fig. 5, so as to expose the same through window 2. By the time that the sign group 38 at the left of Fig. 5 reaches the top of its travel the sign sheet 37 will be fully exposed. As the sign group 38 reaches the upper end of its travel it will strike the lug 64' and pass on upwardly and partly around the curved end 50' to runway 50. The movement will continue until the lug 21 slips past whereupon all of -'the sign groups at the left of the curved upper end 50' will fall back to substantially the position shown inFig. 3. The sign sheet 37' which is now in-front of the window 2 will remain stationary though the chains 23 and 24 will continue to move at their regular rate of speed. The sign sheet will remain stationary until the lug 2! again engages a sign group at the lower end 'of the travel of the chains and starts to raise the new sign group upwardly. The new sign group functions as the one just described and this action continues as long as the'machine is in. operation, whereby the sign sheet 3i of each sign group will be successively brought to View in back of the window 2 and will remain stationary for a prescribed length of time. After all of the sign groups have been disclosed, the operation continues so that there will be a second disclosure, a third, and so on as the machine continues to function. Sometimes it is desired to have a less number of sign groups in the runways 50 and when this is the case the structure shown in Fig. 12 is used. However, the sign sheets of these groups will be brought to view and held stationary a predetermined time in a similar manner to the way these members are brought toview and held stationary as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. ,A certain number of sign groups have bee shown inthe accompanying drawings but, if desired, the runways could be made longer Ior shorter and thereby more or less of these sign memberscould be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. I v

By reason of the construction shown, particularly in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, it will be readily seen that the sign sheets 31 could be removed whenever desired and new ones substituted so as to change the signs according to the wishes of the person paying for the same. In the substitution, a newsigngroup usually would be provided, I

but, if desired, the old sign sheet 31 could be torn from the roller and a new'one applied. The inner end of the sign sheet 31 may be tacked or otherwise rigidly secured to the casing 34.

I claim:' i

1. A display sign including a casing having a window, a pair of facing guideways arrangedlin said casing, there being one guideway on each side of said window, a plurality of sign groups having their ends slidably mounted in saidguideways, each of said sign groups including a drum,

a sign sheet having one end secured to said drum,

a spring for normally rotating the sign sheet on the drum, means connecting the opposite end of the sign sheet toth'e next preceding group, means adjacent said window for preventing said sign groups from moving opposite said window, said means including a plurality of loosely rotatablerubber rollers positioned to engage part .of the reroller anda bar connected to the free end of the spective sign groups as theymove to thelower end of said window, an endless chain for each of said guideways, each of said chains havinga lug posi- 9 tioned to engage and force the respective sign groups past said rollers and also past said window whereby the sign sheets of the succeeding group' will be displayed as the preceding sign groupjis 2. A display sign including a casing havinga window, a pair of guideways arranged withinthe casing, a plurality of .sign groups-carried by said guideways so that in part of their travel the sign groups will move past said window, a toothed member positionedso that its teeth' will in suocession act as abutments for preventing the sign groupsfrom passing said window, spring-pressed means for resiliently holdingsaid toothed member against rotation,- a pair of endless chains,*a

lug'on each of said endlesschainspositioned to engage the sign groups in succession opposite said toothed wheel and move the sign groups past the.

toothed wheel and also past the window, and" power actuated means for moving said chains continuallyduring the use of the display sign. v p

3. A display sign including a casing having-awindow, a pair of endless guideways arranged in the casing and provided with straight sections opposite said window, a spring pres'sedguide ar-'' ranged interiorly of the casing adjacent the window, a plurality of sign groups having their ends loosely positioned in said guideways, means for engaging and successively moving said sign groups past said window, each of said sign groups 1 including a drum, a sign sheet having one end secured to the drum, a spring for winding the sign sheet on the-drum and means at the other end of the sign sheet for connecting the same to the next preceding sign sheet wherebyas the respective sign groups are moved past said win- (low the sign sheets of the respective sign groups will be spread out in back of said. window, and springmeans acting on the sign sheets 'for holding the same against said spring pressed guide. whereby the sign sheets may beclearly seen-i through said window,

'4. A display sign including a casing having a 50. window, a plurality of sign groups arranged in saidfcasing, guideways for guiding said'sign;

said rollers'extending into the respective guideways, a rigid bar connecting said end members,

a drum rotatably mounted on said end members, a sign sheet having one end secured to a; roller, a spring for winding the sign sheet on the sign sheet, said bar being mounted inthe next, preceding sign group, means for moving said sign groups successively past said window, said. means moving the sign groups at spaced intervals past said window, eachsign group as' itx moves past the window. pullingthe sign sheetof" I position in back' of said window, and a pairfof' the next succeeding group so as to unwind the. same and bring the last'mentioned sheet toa .70. resilient rollers positioned adjacentthe lower 'end s of said window and arranged to engage the re-* i spective bars on the respective sign groups for preventing the movement of thesign groups-rte. a'position opposite said window until positively the sign groups will move past saidvwindow; said I sign groups filling saidguideways at the part 'oppositesaid window and at thebottom whereby the weight of the sign groups atthe part of the guideways opposite the window will continually tend tomove the. sign groupstoward said window, a toothed member so positioned that its teeth will, act .in succession as abutments' for preventingthe sign groups" from passing said window, spring-pressed means for resiliently holding said toothed member against rotationfa pair of endless chains, alug on each of said chains positioned to engage the sign groups in succession opposite' said toothed member and move the sign groups past said toothed member toagposition to be exposed opposite said window and then to a position in said guideways opposite said window, and power actuated means for moving said chains continually 'duringvthe, use of the v display sign.

6. In a device as set forth in claim 2 characterized by having a pair of endless guideways formed with vertically disposed parallel front and back sections and arc-shaped top and'bottom sections,

sign groups being sufiiciently. numerous to completely fill said back sections and said bottom sections whereby the weight of the sign groups acting under gravity will continually urge the sign groups in said bottom sections to move toward said front sections, and thereby permit the use of a minimum motive force in causing the sign groups to function;

' JOB HUTCHINSON.

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