US2205937A - Display sign - Google Patents

Description

n 25. 1 40. H. 'G. SULLNAN 2,205,937

DISPLAY SIGN Filed Nov. 4, 1938 Qu ll!!! Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES This invention relates to improvements in display signs; and more particularly, to that class which utilize colors to attract attention.

Blinker signs, which come on and off at regular intervals, are well'know'n'; and illuminated perforated signs likewise are used; but in my inventioh, the various color combinations gradually fade out and into a new combination so that a very unusual display isobtained, and at the same time, permits word formations at definite intervals. The use of a perforated bar extending across a part of the face of the display, the perforations forming an advertising medium, provides continuous advertising which'is supplemented by the appearance of the letters at predetermined intervals;

The principal object of my invention resides in providing" a sign in theform of a disc on which is mounted a plurality of smaller discs of varying color being rotatable through a common medium so as to present a startling and unusual color display, the colors combining in' such a manner as to gradually change from one combination to another, the result being entirely different from what would normally be expected through the rotation of the discs.

Another object is to provide an advertising medium wherein at definite intervals words or letters will appear, so that they are discernible, after which they will gradually fade, various color combinations being visible which serve to attract attention.

Still another objectis to provide a rotating advertising sign in which the blending of color due to the rotation of the discs provides unusual color combinations which will vary with the speed at which the discs are rotated.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation;

Figure 2 is a top plan;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a front elevation with the advertising panel removed.

Referring to the drawing, in which parts are designated by like numerals:

5 Numeral 5 designates a sign box on which is rotatably mounted a disc 6, having its face preferably colored with a neutral color such as aluminum or silver.

Mounted on the face of the disc 6 are four 55 discs 1, 8, 9 and I9, each of which is divided into similar DISPLAY SIGN Harry G. Sullivan, De Land, Fla.

' Zipplicatio'n November 4, 1938, Serial No. 238,870

I 1 Claim. (01. 40-34) PATENT OFFICE if three equal segments containing thefprimary colors red, blue andyellow, designated R, B and Y. The outer edges of the'di'scs I, 8, 9' and) have,gear teeth II in contact with a pinion gear'l2 freely mounted on a shaft 13 on which 5 is freely mounted the disc 6 and a. collar said shaft l3 being supported by a standard I5. The discs 1,8,9 and it! are spaced from'the disc 6 by bearings l1 and freely rotatable onstud members IS. A platform l9 supports the starid- 10 am 15 andan electric motor 29. over the collar l4 and the pulley 22' of the motor29. U v Extendingacross the face of the sign 5 i s a perforated'strip 29, the perforations forming the l5 word Drink in the illustration shown in'Figure 1. On the corresponding segment of each disc I, '8, 9 and I9 is placed a letter which could be a word if desired. In the illustration shown in Figure 1 the letters M I L and K appear, the let- 20 ters being arranged in clockwise direction so as to spell Milk.

As actually used, the motor 20 will revolve the collar l4, thus turning the disc 6 and in turn the discs I, 8, 9 and I0 since they are carried by the disc 6. The movement of the disc 6 will set in motion a second movement consisting in the rotation of discs 1, 8, 9 and H], which areintergeared with the pinion l2, which in turn is loosely mounted on the shaft l3. The revolving of the discs I, 8, 9 and I0 is at a slower speed than that of the disc 6 since it is partly due to the momentum created by the revolving disc 6, and results in a. most peculiar and unexpected color effect. The colors on the discs 1, 8, 9 and It] will gradually blend and fade out into other color effects so that constantly changing colors are presented. The placing of the letters in the same color segment on each disc I, 8, 9 and I9 will result in those letters appearing simultaneously so that they can be read, and then gradually fading out and merging with the general color combination. Periodically they will reappear becoming more distinct until they are clearly discernible.

By having the perforated strip 23 extending across the face of the sign, a permanent form of advertising is obtained which is emphasized by the color combination behind the same, and which may be seen through the perforations forming the advertising media. As illustrated in Figure 1, the word Drink is formed in the strip 23 and the letters M I L and K, on the discs I, 8, 9 and I0. Thus periodically these letters will appear so as to be read in association with the word Drink. Obviously other letters could be placed Abelt 2l'pass es on the other segments so as to bring up different words in association with the word Drink or some other permanent word.

Although I have for illustration purposes shown single letters on the segments of the discs 1, 8, 9 and I0, words may be substituted for the letters and the same is true of the other segments so long as corresponding color segments are used to form desired words or sentences.

It is likewise obvious that the segments may vary in number and may be sub-divided with other colors used, it only being essential that the same positioning relation be maintained.

It is essential that the color segments be arranged in identical relation to the pinion l2. This positioning of the color discs is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 where the centers of the blue segments B are all directly in line with the pinion l2 and the positioning of the red segments R is identical each to the other in relation to the pinion l2, and the same is true of the yellow segments Y. Thus at all times, the same color segments will bear synchronized relation to each other while the disc 6 is rotating, resulting in the production of definite and periodic cycles of like color changes passing from pure primary colors of red, blue and yellow, through various blends. When the primary colors are apparent, the letters or words on those segments will be apparent. It is to be noted that only one primary color will be apparent at the same time, and as it fades, it blends into another primary color, the letters on the segment carrying the primary color fading, and as a new primary color appears, the letter on that particular segment will become visible, so that there is a constant change from the primary color to a blend, with another primary color, which finally results in the second primary color predominating until it blends with the next primary color, and so the operation continues.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention. I, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claim.

WhatI claim is:

An advertising display comprising a rotatable base member of a neutral color, a plurality of discs freely rotatable on said base member, each of said discs divided into corresponding color segments and each disc having different colors in each segment, advertising indicia on each segment of the same corresponding color, a shaft extending through the base member, said base member being freely rotatable on said shaft, each disc so arranged that the corresponding color segment is in the same relation to the color segment on the other discs, a perforated strip extending across the face of the base member and secured to the display, said strip being perforated in the form of advertising indicia, means for engaging each disc to cause the same to rotate in positive relation to each other, means for positively rotating said base member, the rotation of said base member setting in motion the discs carried thereby and at a slower speed than said base member resulting in definite colors and advertising indicia, said advertising indicia appearing on the color segments cooperating with the advertising indicia appearing on the strip to give information.

HARRY G. SULLIVAN.

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