US2132474A - Mirror sign with an electric clock - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 1l, 1938. N. EN HoLM MIRROR SIGN WITH AN ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed July 9, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l LEVE INVENTOR Norman EnHolm.

u, M6 @uw ATTORNEYS N. EN HOLM MIRROR SIGN WITH AN ELECTRIC CLOCK oct. 11, 193s.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Julyi 9, 1937 INVENTOR Norman EnHolf/l,

. ATTORNEYS Oct. ll, 1938. N. EN HoLM MIRROR SIGN WITH AN ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed July 9, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hopman En Holm @Mr/@/ Patented Oct. l1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,132,474 MIRROR SIGN WITH AN ELECTRIC CLOCK Norman En Holm, New York, N. Y., aignor to Multi Vue Signs Co., Inc., a. corporation 4of New York Application July 9, 1937, serial No. 152.71m 12 claims. (ci. 40-132) This invention relates to improvements in a In the ccpending application lcd July 9, 1937. mirror sign with an electric clock for advertising Serial N0. 152,698 iS diScIOSed a Sign f this Senpurposes or the like, thesign being of the type eral type in which the main feature of this inhaving a plurality of reecting mirrors spaced ventiOn-lle incvable miner-is disclosed. The

5 apart from each other to produce multiple images instant application relateS t0 Special fOrinS 0f 5 of the indicia, comprising the Sign, mounting for such movable mirrors and repre- An object of the invention is to provide a sign sents a further modification of the basic invenof the character described in which the multiple tion, and fOr the Sake Of illuStraiiOn, a Sign iS images appear to move and thereby produce new herein described in which only one mirror is and novel effects not heretofore obtainable. Oscillated in the manner herein described. HOW- l0 Another object is to provide a sign of the charever, it Will be Obvious that both mirrOrS may be acter described of improved construction in which oscillated so that the mechanism and movement one or both of the moving mirrors therein cause herein described may be combined With the mechcirculation of air to take place Within the sign anism and movements set forth in the aforesaid l5 casing, thereby cooling the operating parts. ccpenfling applicatcn '60 produce neW and IlSe- 15 A further object is to provide a sign of the ful results, and that many modifications can be character described having a clock face formed made in the device herein diSclOSed by cOInbinupon one of the mirrors of the sign and having ing the features herein shown with those shown an electric clock motor which may also be used in the ccpending application ai'OreSaidto move one or both mirrors in the sign. It will further be observed that the instant 20 Other objects and advantages will appear from application discloses the new and novel feature the following specification, it being understood of combining an electric clock with a sign of the that modifications, variations and adaptations character described, and that the clock motor may be made without departing from the invenmay be used fOr mOving One Or bOth mlrrOrS in tion hereinafter claimed. the sign.

25 In the accompanying drawings: Referring to Figure 3, the numeral I 0 denotes Figure 1 is an isometric view of the sign mira front casing of any suitable material and conrors, one of which is movable; struction which supports a transparent mirror Il Figure 2 is a top view ofa complete sign emwhich may consist of a sheet of glass or other bodying the invention; transparent material provided with a thin coating 30 Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of l2 of' silver on its rear face, which coating is just lFigure 2; sufficient to form a reflecting surface by reflected Figure 4 is a horizontal view, partly in section, light, and sufficiently thin to enable one to see l showing an alternative form of mounting the through the glass. This mirror is held in the mirror and showing the position of the clock casing in any suitable manner, for example it 35 motor combined with a sign of the character demay be held in top and bottom slots or grooves` scribed; I3. Immediately in the rear of the mirror Il but "Figure 5 is a. front view, partly in section, of a spaced a small distance therefrom is the rear sign equipped with a clock; mirror I4 having on its rear face a, thick silver Figure 6 iS a SectiOnal View 0f the Stationary coating i5 which is not transparent to transmirrOr l l and mOvable mirror I4 SbOWing bcW mitted light. The indicia or advertising matter indicia l5a may be applied t0 the rear 0f Said to be displayed by the sign to form movable last mirrOr; multiple images may consist of any desired let- Figure '7 is a view of the rear mirror Il showing tering, picture or design and is formed by rehow the indicia I5h may be applied to the front moving the coating I 5, leaving the plain glass 45 thereof; I4 where the indicia is to appear, (see Figures Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a sign of 6 and 7). the character described in which the indicia on The spaces so made are then coated (either on the sign is produced by a refiection of an object the front l5b or rear l5 of glass i4) if desired, placed in front of the sign the object being ilwith suitable transparent colors. This provides 50 luminated from the front; and a translucent design on the rear mirror Il.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of a sign of As more fully set forth in the copending apthe character described in which the indicia on plicaticn Serial No. 152,698 heretofore referred the sign is produced by projecting an image to, it will be observed that it is not necessary thereon from a suitable projector, to have a iight source within the casing de- 55 scribed in the instant application and that said casing, together with the two mirrors and the mechanism for moving one or both said mirrors, comprises a complete sign unit adapted to reflect in multiple images any object such as the indicia I5 or I5h herein described or any object either directly reflected in the mirrors or the image of which is projected thereon. For example, referring to Figure`8, if an object such as a bottle 33 is placed in front of the sign and illuminated by beams of light cast thereon from the lamps 34, 35, an image of this bottle will be reflected by the front translucent mirror II and an image is thereby formed on this mirror. 'I'his image is likewise formed on the rear mirror I4 and multiple reflected images are produced without any indicia such as I5a or I5b appearing on the rear mirror.

Another way of utilizing the sign is to project indicia thereon from any suitable source as a stereopticon 3b, Figure 9, placed in front of the front mirror I I, the primary image being on a film or lantern slide of the ordinary type in the stereopticon. The image thus projected onto the sign will be reflected in the manner just de- K scribed.

It is apparent that in either case as just described, the sign may or may not have indicia ISB, I5b on the rear mirror.

The mirror I4 has secured thereto ln any suitable manner two rearwardly extending supports I6, IISa to which are connected the supporting rods I1, I l, II, I 1, which are hung in brackets I'Ib secured `to the top of the cabinet, as shown in Figure 3. Guide rollers as shown at IIc are provided for the supports I6, the arrangement being such that the mirror I4 is supported to swing from'the position shown in solid lines, Figure 3 to the position I4a shown in dotted lines in said figure. This motion maintains the opposed surfaces of said mirrors substantially parallel to each other at all times. `In order to move the mirror I4 any suitable means such as a small electric motor I8 may be employed and this may be mounted within the casing of the device and enclosed by the rear portion I9 thereof and the motor is connected vin any suitable manner, as by the crank 20 at the point 2I to one of the supports I 6. It will be understood that the motor I8 may have any well known form of internal or external gearing so that the crank 20 will operate at the proper speed to produce the desired result. The translucent design on mirror I4 is adapted to be illuminated by means of a suitable light source such as the electric lamps 22, 22a which are mounted in the closed casing formed by fIIll and I9.

With the mirrors arranged as above set forth and with the design formed as described, light rays from the lamps 22, 22a are directed through the translucent design on the rear mirror, and reflected images will be produced of said design and an image will be produced of the design at a distance in front of the rear surface of the front mirror II which will be equal to the distance between the said rear face of mirror II and the rear face of the rear mirror I4. That image will in turn produce an image appearing as far behind the rear face of mirror I4 as the rst image is before the rear face of the mirror I4;

The second image will give rise to a further image by reflection from the mirrored rear surface of the front mirror II and these images will be repeated and formed a multiple number of times directly behind one another and at a distance apart.

When the light rays from the lamps are projected through the rear mirror in this manner, part of said rays are transmitted through clear glass around the colored areas I 5b as indicated by the arrows, and therefore a greater illumination of the reflected images of the advertising design is produced and there will be obtained a brilliantly lighted eiect. The increase of illumination makes it possible to effect the production of a greater number of reiiected images and therefore the illusion of the repetition of the advertisement is enhanced.

Such effects are old in the art 4where both mirrors have been stationary, the sign producing no illusion of motion, the lettering or other advertising being stationary. However, with the `present invention, the motor I8 being in operation, the entire multiple image is apparently in motion, and the multiple image will apparently advance and recede in cycles as the mirror I4 moves toward and away from the mirror II, which movement gives rise to effects heretofore unobtainable and of such large variety and complexity depending on theV letters, Vgures or other indicia used, that no attempt is made to describe them here.

A further modification of the sign as just described particularly useful when the sign is combined with the'clock is shown in Figures 4 and5 wherein the rear mirror 23 is pivoted at 24, 24a so that it can be oscillated about a vertical axis. 'Ihis mirror ls connected at one end to crank 20 of the motor I8. With this embodiment of the invention it is very easy to add an electric clock to the unit assembly. This is accomplished by mounting the electric clock movement indicated at 32 so that the drive shaft 25 for the hands will extend through a hole inthe center of mirror 23 and outwardly through another hole in the center of mirror II, this shaft or shafts carrying the usual clock hands 26, 21. The hour numerals 28 may be placed on the rear mirror 23 as previously described along with the advertising indicia or may be placed on the front or rear of the front mirror II. In the event that said numerals are placed on the rear mirror they will be displaced when said rear mirror is moved as indicated in Figure 5.

'I'he clock motor 32 may be connected via a suitable shaft or any other means indicated at 29, Figure 4, to a gear (not shown) which would replace the motor I8 and therefore the electric clock motor 32 may be used to oscillate the moving mirror 23.

Obviously, the clock arrangement just described can be used in connection with the sign construction shown in Figure 3 and obviously by reference to the heretofore mentioned copending application, or to the copending application filed July 9, 1937 Serial No. 152,699 both mirrors may be moved.

A further improvement is disclosed in connection withFigure 3 wherein the casing I0 is provided with air ducts 30 and louvers 3| are provided in the rear casing I9. The movement of the mirror I4 which is bellows-like in action, will then cause a draft of air to circulate through the casing, thereby cooling and Ventilating the interior thereof.

While the term translucent has been applied to the indicia or design on one of the mirrors, it will be understood that any suitable insusana dicia or design may be employed, either translucent or opaque, and that such design may be applied wholly or partially on any of the surfaces of either of the mirrors or may be pro- Jected on the device from an outside source and reflected thereon.

The light source is shown as behind the rear mirror. It will be understood this light source may be located anywhere relative to the indicia, in order to illuminate the same, for example in front of the sign, or above or below the same. 'I'he location and method of illuminating the indicia can therefore be varied within wide limits.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sign oi.' the character described, a pair of plane mirrors, means for continuously moving one mirror toward and away from the other mirror to produce constantly varying multiple reilections while maintaining the opposed surfaces oi' said mirrors substantially parallel, and means for illuminating said mirrors.

2. In a sign of the character described, a casing, a mirror fixed in said casing, a second mirror having a plane surface opposed to a plane surface of said first mirror, means secured to said casing for movably suspending said second mirror therefrom, means for continually moving said second mirror to produce constantly varying multiple reiiections. and means for illuminating said mirrors.

3. In a sign of the character described, a casing. a mirror in said casing. a second mirror opposed to said ilrst mirror, means for supporting said second mirror in said casing, means for moving said second mirror toward and away from said nrst mirror to produce constantly varying multiple reilections while maintaining the opposed surfaces oi. said mirrors in substantially parallel relationship, and means for illuminating said mirrors.

4. A sign as claimed in claim 3 wherein the means for moving said second mirror includes a reciprocating arm connected thereto and an electric motor connected to said arm to reciprocate the same.

5. A sign as claimed in claim 3 wherein said casing has ventilating apertures therein and said second mirror is adapted when moved to cause a circulation of air within said casing and said apertures.

8. A sign as claimed in claim 3 wherein said casing is in two parts, each having apertures to permit air to circulate through said casing when said second mirror is moved therein to produce a bellows action therein.

'1. In a sign ot the character described, a pair of apertured mirrors one of which is translucent, said mirrors adapted to produce multiple reilections, means for continuously moving one of said mirrors, a clock movement positioned behind said mirrors and having a shaftextending outwardly through said apertures therein, clock face indicia on one of said mirrors, and a casing in which said mirrors are operatively supported.

8. A sign as claimed in claim 7 wherein the movable mirror is connected to the clock movement to be moved thereby.

9. A sign of the character described having a pair of mirrors one of which is translucent, said mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections and having opposed reflecting surfaces, a casing supporting said mirrors, a clock enclosed by said casing having a face formed on one of said mirrors therein, and means for continuously moving one of said mirrors to cause the opposed surfaces of said mirrors to assume various relative angular positions whereby said multiple reflections are given apparent movement.

l0. A sign of the character described having a pair of mirrors one of which is translucent, said mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections, a casing supporting said mirrors, clock mechanism comprising clock hands overlying one of said mirrors, a clock face formed on one of said mirrors, and means for moving said last mirror to cause apparent movement of multiple reilections of said clock face.

ll. In a device of the character described, a casing having a pair of mirrors therein the outer mirror being translucent, clock mechanism associated with said mirrors and supported by said casing, the hands of said clock overlying the outer face of said outer mirror, the rear mirror of said pair having translucent clock face indicia thereon, and means within said casing for illuminating said indicia to cause multiple reflections thereof to appear on said mirrors.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein one or both mirrors are moved by means located within said casing to cause said multiple reflectionsv to appear to cyclically move.

NORMAN EN HOLM.

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