US2330835A - Neon signpost support - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1943.

s. c. MILLER NEON SIGN POST SUPPORT Filed Feb. 23., 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY ATTORNEY Ochs, 1943. s. c. MILLR 2,330,835

NEON SIGN POST SUPPORT Filed Feb.v 25, 1939 '2 sheets-sheet 2 JNVENTOR. Smm/EL C /W/LEE BY f ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1943 v 'U'Nrrfefof :STATES PATENT ortica Application February ze, 1939*, seria1 No, 25ans' 10` Claims.

This t invention lrelates insgeneral to themounting 'of luminous :gaseous electrical f discharge tubes, such as the well-knownfneon .lightsor .the like. u More particularly., it relates to..connector means by which .posts 'or brackets secured :to .lthe luminous tubeswmay be-.mounted Y on 'a ,backing or- `base plate gsuch as is customarily .used luminous sign work, in which .tubes of variousesizes, congurations and '.colorsfare assembledV on such -loackings. l ;;Coordinately therewith itrela'tes lto a tool for facilitating .the ready mounting vof Isuch,` luminous tubes and. more particularly; for attaching .the aforementioned :connector means to a backing plate.

It is among the/ general objectssof `my invention to providein a luminous, lgaseouslelectrical discharge tube installation a simple, effective,r low costI arrangement adapted forbeing'seoured to a backing crbasey plate without the .use of screws or bolts and .without access to the back of "such base plate being necessary and adaptedto receive thereinmembers ,attached to theluminous: tubes.

It iswfurtherA among the generalobjects, of lmy invention to provide `a tool adapted gto, facilitate the installationo .anv arrangement such 'as ,just described. l f

TvVhile arrangements for, this purpose :arenot new, the types atheneofwithwhich :I am familiar fall short of approaching the optimum V.results in one or more ofthefollowing respects, amongothers: Many of themydoznotlafford a iirinl or .secure ,supportf or :while firm. yand secure @when ini- .tially installed, loosen on even become: detached ina; comparativelyshort-time;'y Others ofthedevices lack vsufficient :capacityior adjustment and alignment-, so; asto permit ofthe tubesbeingassembled without, distortion yand strain, whileothers again while theyfmayfbe aligned `and adjusted with the expenditure `of much l time and labor, :possess no capacity for selfalignment such., as will assurev their automatically 4assuming a .position in which the parts they support arefsub- `jected to the v-rninimuin strain., Qthers again-'are diiiculil or tedioustoinstall.

It is therefore f L- rrlbngfthe-more'particularob-V jects of my -invention 'co-provide an arrangement for rmlysupporting-luminous tubes of the;char acter mentioned which-is feiectivef and reliable in operation and will not become ,a ccidentally loosened Vand,-fdisplaced, and, which lis selfad- ,justing and `self-aligning, and can :be readily installed. l l l jeets as` may;animarA hercinfor be hereinafter ,ment of` my invention;

pointed out, l makereference to vthe accompanying `drawings yfor-mingl va part; vhereof, in -whichr Figure lis van elevational viewshown-g ith@ 1 2@- plicationV of my `invei'itonxtol themountingtof 1uminous gaseous electricr'discha'rge tubes;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of'one embodivFigure 3 isa plan viewffofgthegdeviceof lFigure 2 ,in'place on abaseplate; n f Figure 1 is a sectional view, .onftheline 4-4 =of .Figure 3, looking in the @directionof rthe arrows; 'Figure 5 is a sectional view ,zorn thefline 5- 5 Iof Figure 4, lookingvinthefdire'ctionfotthe 4arrows; y Figure 6A isaside, elevationalviewiof la second embodimentof, myinvention;

yFigure 7 is a sectional viewionfthe line 1; 'l:of Figure 6,1 lool5ing in the directionfo the arrows; Figure 8. is.- an :elevational 4view partly in :section, of a. further embodiment .of my inventon; l Figure 9 ris anielevational View, of a tool adapt- -edyfor use in the operation of .inst,alling luminous ftubesusing `my:improved',Inounting means in such :installation:

Figure l10 is a perspectiveexplodedlview of janother embodiment-,pf the invention;

- Figure 11 is .a :side elevational View; of an in- ALS.trurnentfalliti/for applying thefsame;

1 FigurelZ .is a longitudinal sectional view, taken ralong the lines @I Zftz :of Figi. 1Q, showing; the mannerin whichg the device is 1attached, .with

the instrumentality vin 'fthe forward stroke Figure 13 is l a; similarview,i showing the ,iin- St ruinerltalitvnon the returnistroke;

a Figure llll; is a ifraementax ing the completed installatie-nini i;l i e attaching means; f

Figure 415 `a ifraementarvfareanface view lof the same.

and the othwjerpendiwmr-thereto;tarmenews I? .is ,shown fastenedgto f each of these l egs.

y .fIhe :posts .P are shown asl` of conv ntional thefulbe L mayeat, endhOOK-.lke protuberances H over which,,wresmWwserving :tol secure -the tubes L to the posts 1P., may be led.

tion s :having annulahgloovesiatintervals A'solas eotional view-showto provide constricted portions permitting relatively ready fracture thereat, for the purpose of varying the height of the post P.

The problem solved by my invention is the effective connection at low cost of posts P, of conventional type, to a backing, base or face plate B, of a type such as is conventionally used for luminous tube sign work. One embodiment of my invention adapted for effecting such a connection willbe foundV illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 in detail, and this embodiment has also been shown in Figure 1 in place in a tube installation. In these figures the connectors shown for uniting the posts P to the base plate or backing B will be foundshown to consistl of two main parts,

a socket or pedestal member, designated as a whole by the numeral I and adapted to receive the stem portion S of a post P, and a fastener member, designated as a whole by the numeral` II and serving to effect the connection between the socket or'pedestal member l@ and the base plate B. Ank additional element will be found in the resilient washer I2 interposed intermediate the fastener II and the socket Ill and performing a function all as will be more fully described here` inafter..

The socket member I0 of this first embodiment of my improved' connector as shown in Figures 2 to 5 comprises a body portion having paired ngers I3-extending outwardly from a central jportion I4 from the bottom of which extends laterally a foot portion I5 having a slot I6 therein for a purposethat will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The fingers I3.are contoured and disposed as to encompass the stem'portion S of a post P; by making them resilient they will accommodate themselves withinr limits, to postsy or to portions of posts of 'different diameters. It will further be observed that each pair of ngers I3 can accommodate itself to the stem contours independently of thefothers and that consequently by using a plurality of such pairs spaced from each other a greater number of independent points of engagement'between the inner '.walls Y of the fingersv I3 and a stem S may result."-The "fingers are preferably of such width that they purposes, it is to be understood that I may use more than that number. On the other hand mor certain purposes-also, only onepair of ngers may be found desirable,

Each of the fingers I3 of the lowermost pair isv shown as provided with a downwardly ex,- tending lug I'I projecting to such an extent bev-low the contours'of the socket member thatthev two lugs I'I and the toe portion I8 of the foot portion I5 constitute in effecta three point support assuring a rm foundation for the socket or pedestal member when it is resting on the base plate (see Figure 4). The lugs Il further serve to raise the lower surface of the foot portion I5 away from the surface of the base plate, so that thefoot portion may be 'deformed within limits, touching the base plate other than at the points of the three point support just described. This'feature will be found to be of importance when the operation of the fastener member,rto be next described, is understood.

The fastener I I is shown as comprising a fiattened` perforatedheadportion I9, a relatively restricted hollow neck portion 20, and an en larged hollow nose portion 2l. A plurality of slits 22 which it will be observed extend into the head portion IS, divide the nose portion and the neck portion into segments 23 which may be described as jaws The material of the fastener is preferably of such character that the jaws 23 are resilient.

The nose portion 2l and` the neck portion are so proportioned in relation'to-openings'O in the backing` plate and to'theflslot i6 in the socket member, that they may be inserted through the slot I6 and through the opening O (see Figs. 2, and 5), and so that the nose portion 2l will protrude beyond the reverse side of the plate B and will expand into a position in which its rear portions form shoulders engaging the walls of i the opening O and'lresist withdrawal of the fastener.

The dished spring washer I2 is preferably interposed underneath the'head I9 of the fastener and betweenvit and the vfoot portion I5 of the socket. Itvadds a further element of resiliency to the arrangement, in addition' to the resiliency of the fastener jaws 23, and some degree of resiliency of the foot portion E5. As a result there is never, in any of the ordinary positions of vthe fastener, any suchposition in whichthe parts are not under tension and free play therebetween is eliminated. At the same time the parts are free t0 adjust themselvesfor purposes of selfalignment. It will be observed thatthe pedestal member It may swivel about the fastener member II, and at .the same time the fastener member I I can swivel in the opening O. This swivelling is indicated by the .arrows A in Figure 5.

Movement radially ofthe opening is permitted by sliding of the neck portion 2li! of the fastener inthe slot I6.' Tilting of the socketor pedestal member from thevertical is also possible to a limited degree due to the resiliency of its various parts.

In order to permit of the use ofI my improved fastener v.member II with socket members of other types, the dimensions thereof, and particularly of its neck and nose portions 20 and 2|,

suming that the plate B is-in position, and provided with 4holes O, the operator withone hand will holdslot I6 in position over a hole O and with the other hand will force a fastener I I (with a spring washer l2 underneathits head) through slot 'land hole,"and the fastener'will snap into place because of the resiliency of its jaws. If desired it maybe withdrawn byexerting a sufficient force onit. jv Where preformed holesare provided in the plate B it is of coursev necessary-in assembling the posts P to thetubes vL to mount them in approximately theiry nal l positions.` However, great accuracy in this respect is not required, because of the great capacity of the mounting for radjustment and self-alignment, and because the posts P may be slid along the tube L.-

scribed) and -the yfastener II `(orthecorresponding parts with or without the spring washer I2,- where used) may be initially assembled and .be

i ready as a unit, the'proportioning of the slot I6 to the head or' jaws 23 (or the corresponding parts in the other embodiments) being such that these parts maybe handled as a unit,-by reason of the frictional engagementwhich thehead or jaws 23 makes as it passes through the slot I6.

While I have described that` `in installing luminous tubes L, the posts P. may `first be loosely assembled to the tubes L, this is one mode of operation, but the preferred mode is t locate the sockets" l@ (or the corresponding` parts) in the perforations O by their vcorresponding fastener elements and have these inreadiness'for `attaching the posts P, followed by ywiring the tubes L to these posts.

Where preformed holes are not provided in the plate B, it is a simple matter to drill these in the field; again there is .no lneed for great vaoi curacy. It` will be observed .that my improved mounting does `noteniploy screw threads'so that defective workmanshiptherein due to poorlyintertting male and female threaded members is not a source of trouble, as it is in such threaded constructions. Access to the back of the plate is never necessary, whether for applying the fastener or for removing it.` All manipulations may be performed with one pair of hands-that is, by one operator; another `operator is required only to hold large tubes in the proper position while the first operator secures their portions in place. l .i v

In Figures 6 and 7 I have'shown a second embodiment `of my invention in which the com'- plete assembly comprises only a socket and a fastener member, and the spring washer shown intermediate these parts in the embodiment of Figure 2, has been eliminated. Parts of this embodiment corresponding to parts of the embodiment of Figure 2 have been similarly numbered, with the addition to each number of the suffix a, and description thereof, where the function is the same, will be omitted as superfluous.

It will be observed that the foot portion ld of the socket Imember lila is bowed or arched in' transverse section,-as clearly appears from Figure '7, whereby obviously, its rigidity in a longitudinal direction will be increased. By `making the socket member orat least Vthe foot portion |50. thereof of resilient material, the foot portion will assume the function of the spring washer l2 of the embodiment of `Figure 2.

A further embodiment of my invention which I may characterize as the preferredy embodiment f of my invention, is shown in Figure 8. This embodiment resembles that of Fig. 2 in all `respects except the construction of the fastener member.

vFor that reason `all parts shown in said figure eicept the fastener member have been numbered to correspond to the similar parts of Figure 2,

`with the sumx bwaddedpto the numerals.

, outward as shown inFigureS, `and reverse movement, that, is, movement tendingito withdraw "the Lfastener member `will Abepreventedrby ther engagement of the prongs 3.3 aganstthe reverse side of the plate B. In thismanner the fastener provides a connectionthat is: more secure than that` provided by `the -fa'stener i l of Figure 2. While a tool might be readily devised for pushing `the prongs 33 inward to .enable withdrawal of the fastener 3D from the` opening O', ordinarily this'type of fastener, would be used with the contemplation; of its destruction when the `parts areto be disassembled.

InFigure 9 I have 'shown a tool that maybe conveniently used in conjunction with the operation of attaching my improved-fastening members to plates B. As illustrated in Figure 9, such atool may'comprise a handle portion xprovided with a blunt endportion il adapted to form a shoulder against which may rest the head I9 of a fastener rl I, and from which projects a resilient longitudinally splitportion 132 adapted for insertion into the hollow of the neck portion 25J of the fastener `member `Il andto resiliently engage the inner walls thereof. Oncevin- `serted into a fastener member it will hold it while` the` fastener is being pushed into place, using the `tool as a' handle and once the fastener is in place, the tool is readily withdrawntherefrommas will be obvious.

InDerforming the operation just described, the spring'washer l2 may be placed over the neck of` the fastener, as shown in.Figure 9, before the fastener is positioned. i

Making reference to Figures 10 to l5, there is illustrated another embodiment of my `invention. i

In this embodiment,.any standard socket member 5t, having the usual` laterally extending base 5l, may be employed. This; base El, `may-be formed with the longitudinal slot 52, as will be recognized by those in the art as existing at the present time. It will be understood, however, as in the embodiments previously,illustrated, some degree of resiliency or springiness may be v given to the basefsl byslightly angularly ;dis

posing the base 5l from a point adjacent the inner` end 53 and therouter end. 54, thereof. This slight angular displacement `will temporarily provide a two point Contact between the lugs 55 and the end 54. i

Y Additionally, resilient` or spring action may be obtainedby arcuatelyforming the base 51 in its transverse section, `as will be apparent from a `with a small orifice El.

consideratio-n of Figures 6 and '7. The angular vdisplacement of the base 5I -or its arcuate forma- [5l made of sectional elements connected to the flange 53 and defined by slit lines 59. Sectional construction is obtainedby'slitting the shank 51 along the `slit lines 59 and extending into the ange 58, to give requisite flexibility, as will be `readily understood. The forward portions ofthe sectional elements of the shank 5l' are formed with inwardly directed tongues 6E, providing a rather close contactingcluster of these elements, Thetongues 6B, as will be apparent,` are `bent sharply upwardly lso vthat their ends 62 .iprovideslatching "elements,

thefunctionof which will-be1 apparent as4 this description proceeds. l r Itfwill. be observed thatthefastener element 56 has an internal boring 'or orifice. 63 of relatively large diameter, andan orificel ofcrela.- tively small diameter. .Y I j .WithLtliisforrnof fastening element provided, I. thenprovide a sprng'vvaslier 64having an orifice 65 corresponding substantially to the diameter of the shank 51 of the fastener element 56. It will be understood that the springiness of the spring washer 64 may be obtained by dishing this element and making the washer 64 of suitable spring material.

For ready attachment of the socket member 50 to a frame plate B, which is formed with an orifice O, it is preferred that I accomplish the same by an instrumentality shown in Figure 11. This is preferably a percussion tool comprising a shaft 66, one end whereof is provided with a handle 61, having a flange 68. Adjacent the opposite end 69 I provide a sleeved collar 10, formed with a slot 1I, permitting limited slidable movement for the length of the slot 1| by a cross pin 12. Between the collar 10 and the ange 63, I interpose a coiled spring 13 which normally forces the collar 1U away from the flange 68. It will be understood that the collar 16 may move upwardly in the form shown in Figure l1, as determined by the length of the slot 1l against the resilient eX- pansion of the spring 13. The free end of the shaft 66, extending beyond the collar 10, is tapered or conically formed to its free end 14, providing a sharp point, and terminates at its'base into a cylindrical section 15, the diameter of which corresponds substantially to the boring 63 of the fastener element 56.

Spaced from the section 15 is an annular slot 16, having a rather sharp shoulder 11.

With an instrumentality of this character provided, I will now refer to Figures 12 and 13 for the manner in which the socket member may be affixed to a sign plate B, employing the fastener element 56 and spring washer 64.

I first nest the washer 64 upon the shank 51 of the fastener element 56 and these elements, in turn, are then projected through the slot 52, formed in the base member 5I. The assembly is then positioned so that the shank 51 enters the orifice O. In this position, the point of the instrumentality shown in Figure 11 is forced to enter the orifice 6I. Pressure upon the handle 61 serves first to project the point 14 through the orice 6l. As the pressure is continued and the shaft 69 moves through the collar 16, Contact f will be made by the collar 10 and the flange 58, to drive the shaft 51 through the orifice O against the spring action of the washer 64. As the shaft 69 progresses downwardly, the tapered sides of the instrumentality spread the sections 51, as will appear in dotted lines in Figure 12. v This action serves to upset the sections `51 by reason of the camming effect obtained by thertapered portion 14 against the tongues 60.

The limiting movement downwardly of the shaft 69 against the collar 1U finally projects the shaft 69 so that the annular slot 15 is brought beyond the line of the tongues 60, so that onthe return stroke, the ends 62 of the tongues 60 may enter the slot 16. The retraction movement causes engagement of the shoulder 11 with the ends 62 of the fastener element. Further retraction of the shaft 69 thereby serves further to crimp the sections 51 on the interior face of the plate B, to form a locking element, as Will appear more clearly from an inspectionof Figures 14 and 155, .9`1..

' `It Vwill thus be apparent that by the embodiment herein illustrated, .the socket member 50 may be applied to a plate B and the orice O thereof, in a simple manner, from the front face of the frame plate `B. Asimple tool,.in the nature of a percussion tool, not only maybe utilized to locate the fastener element 56 but, in the same stroke of action in pressing the same in posi.- tion, upset the sections 51 into locking engagement. It is understood that the spring washer 64 and such springiness as may be oiered by the base 5| compensate for any variation in thickness of the frame plate B.

It will also be apparent that the fastener elements 56 may be made of readily deformable metal so that if it should be found necessary to remove the socket member 50, any simple tool, such as a screw driver, may be pried underneath the flange 58 to remove the same. While this action may permanently disiigure the fastener element 56, these parts are relatively so inexpensive that they may be discarded after once having been used.

In general, it will be observed that I have provided a construction for quickly and facilely at taching socket members of the character de.- scribed, without the use of screws or bolts and without absolute need for making the rear face of the frame plate accessible.

,It will further be observed that while it is known to me that screws have heretofore been used to threadedly engage the frame plate, my construction permits a fastening engagement by the mere thrusting of the fastening element through the orice of the frame plate, by a single stroke.

It will further be observed that by reason of .the resiliency of the resilient elements comprislsliding action along the slot formed in the foot portion or base so that the socket member may be adjusted to be aligned with the neon sign tube L.

It will be understood that while all of the benets of my invention may be obtained by utilizing all of the features, my invention is not thereby to be limited but that selected portions of my embodiments have novelty per se, and that my invention is to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, and illustratedits use, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In connecting means for mounting luminous gaseous electrical discharge tubes on perforated base plates, a socket member having an extension 'forming a support and shaped to provide a three 2. In means for effecting a connection between 'a luminous gaseous electrical discharge tube and ya perforated backing plate, a socket member adapted to receive a post connected to said tube, and a fastener member adapted to be fastened to v said plate by the resilient engagement ofportions thereof with the walls of a perforation in said plate, and said socket and fastener members being resiliently interconnected so as to be relatively slidable and rotatable.

3. In means for effecting a connection between a luminous gaseous electrical discharge tube and a perforated backing plate, a socket member adapted to receive a post connected to said tube, and a fastener member adapted to be fastened to said plate by the resilient engagement of portions thereof with the walls of a perforation in said plate, and said socket and fastener members being resiliently interconnected so as to be relatively slidable and rotatable, said interconnection including a spring washer.

4. In means for effecting a connection between a luminous gaseous electrical discharge tube and a perforated backing plate, a socket member adapted to receive a post connected to said tube having a lateral extension forming a support for said socket, and a separable fastener member adapted to be resiliently snapped into a perforation of said plate and to be positively held against withdrawal therefrom and engaging said extension, and a resilient connection between the extension of said socket and fastener members.

5.In a connector for effecting a connection between a post carried by a' luminous gaseous electrical discharge tube and a backing plate, a

, socket member comprising spaced pairs of resilient jaws adapted to grip said post, a foot portion extending laterally from the ends of an end pair of jaws, and a lug projecting outwardly from each jaw of said end pair of jaws and to be extended substantially beyond other edge portions of said jaws so as to provide, together with the toe of said foot portion a three point support for said member one of which points of support being adjacent the end of said foot portion, another of which points of -contact being adjacent the lug extended from the said jaw.

6. In a socket member comprising resilient jaws adapted to gripa post, lugs extending from said jaws and adapted to contact a at surface and to space said jaws therefrom, and a slotted foot portion extending outwardly to one side of said.

jaws and adaptedto cooperate to space said jaws from said flat surface, said foot portion being arched in transverse cross-section.

'7. In a socket member for mounting sign posts of the character described and which are to be used for attaching said sign posts to a sign frame plate by use of an anchoring orice formed in said plate, said socket member comprising a perforated base extending laterally outwardly in a warped condition to provide a resilient contact between saidbase and said plate, the perforation whereof being adapted to be aligned with the anchoring orifice of said plate, the combination with the resiliently disposed base of said member of a fastening element passing through said base for connecting said socket to said sign frame plate comprising a headed element having a shank formed with sectional portions arranged to pass through said base and plate, said portions being expansible longitudinally and Vtransversely of said shank to anchor saidbase to said plate upon expansion of said portions by adjustment to the thickness of said base, the warped condition thereof and plate lying between said element and said portions.

8. In a socket member in accordance with claim '7, wherein the fastening element thereof is formed from normally i resiliently deformable sheet metal.

9. In a socket member in accordance with claim '7, wherein the fastening element thereof has the sectional portions thereof formed to terl in the form of an elongated `slot and wherein the headed element includes resilient means to compensate for play between said element and said plate and to augment the frictional contact between said base and plate to hold said base in frictional adjustable position on said plate.

SAMUEL C- MILLER.

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