US2335296A - Adjustable insulating elevation post - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 30, 1943. s. c. MlLLER ADJUSTKBII INSULATING. ELEVATION POST Filed Oct. 17. 1941 INVENTOR 1534441151. C.M/LLEE.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT ADJUSTABLE INSPULSA'IING ELEVATION 0 T This invention relates to elevation posts, more particularly to adjustable elevation posts and insulators for tubular, gaseous illuminants, such as those generally known as neon sign lamps.

Elevation posts of insulating material have heretofore been made of glass wherein the insulater element is provided with a seat fer the tubular illuminant, and horns for tying the tubular illuminant thereto. The glass posts for such construction are generally referred to in my ap plications Serial No. 337,193 and Serial No. 369,798 filed May 25, 19%, and December 12, 1940, respectively.

The need for wiring the tubing to the elevation post horns introduces an element of labor, appearance and electrical effect, which is objec tionable. The wire is not only visible but in unskilled hands, or by reason of changes in terrierature, fracture of the horns of the elevation post frequently results.

It is an object of my invention to overcome the deficiencies of elevation posts as known to me, ire-n1 the standpoint of enhancing the ap-' pearance thereof without sacrificing the insulating value of these contrivances. I have foundor translucent character, are admirably suitable for use as elevation posts. I have further foundthat the thermoplastic insulators of transparent or translucent character, the index of refraction of which is close to quartz glass, add an unusually attractive appearance to tubular illuminants of the character described, in that the light transmission features avoid any interfering influence in the display of the tubular illuminant, and may therefore be positioned at any point along the length of the tubing which it is intended that it support.

I have further found that the thermoplastic characteristics of synthetic resinous materials may be advantageously employed to form, in situ, the connection between the elevation post and the tubing.

Thus I have found that I may form an elevation post of thermoplastic material and provide the same with tubing enveloping segments which may be formed into connecting engagement in situ, thereby eliminating objectionable wire iii straps and ornamental experienced with glass or lik' V, A v

Ihiave further found, by elimination or the llic tying means sqauyenip oyeu with elevation posts known to me, and luminous tubes wholly by n licj ators, that visual as well as electrical defects are minimized. V L O the r i e'atures army invention will become more apparenuorhe more p a sized as this description procee H For this purpose I nialie reference to companying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which; p v h Figure l is a front ele' nal view showing one embodiment of h e;

Figure 2, is a side elevationailview thereof; Efigure 3 is a plan viewth'ereof; Figure 4 ra s,t e, ele a iixrsst an standard in position on a surface, together with a section of neon sign tubing;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, w thereof; .1 e V. Figure 5 is a'view' eorrespbhs sg g Figure with a screw threaded type of elevation post, in accordance with my invention Making reference to thedrawing, I have trated in Figures 1 to 5 an elevation in post for neon sign tubing or the like, par suitable witlr my adjustableino'unt non orcli p, referredto in m appl a lo a1 Nos. 337,193 and 369,798. means-y 25, 19 10; and December 12, 1940, re"specti vely. U I

The invention herein cc dern itslfru h with the post it, which e tspne iiq, j H arranged to interfit'withsome' p.

ad's asst-tides The opposite endiZ is formedwith a sea oer fined by angularly disposedffaces i4, thereby,

serving to center tubing [5 within rather wide tolerance of siaes. The seat isforniejd It and n, which termmate intofi ngers l8 and It. At the time of construction, the fingers I8 and I9 are preferably formed substantially parallel to each other, whereby the tubing l5 may be disposed therebetween, to rest upon the seats In this position, where the post has the branches thereof made of thermoplastic resinous material, they are suitably heated, and then folded into enveloping positions, more clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, wherein the branches are bent to form arcuate fingers 20 and 2!.

It will be understood that the displacement to the enveloping position is consistent with the size of the tubing disposed upon the seat l3, thus providing firmness of engagement, particularly when the shrinkage incident to cooling is taken into account after the operation which involved forming the thermoplastic fingers 8 and I9 into engaging position by heat.

In general, I prefer to form the post It! of thermoplastic material, which is deformable at moderate temperatures, such as approximately 200 to 225 F. The polystyrene resins and the methacrylate resins have been found suitable, though I prefer the polystyrene resins for my purpose.

Where I employ thermoplastic resinous material whose index of refraction ischosen with due regard to the nature of the glass employed, the appearance of the illuminant held in position by my construction is materially enhanced, and harmonious color schemes may be effected.

Where tubing of the type which is coated with fluorescent material is employed, marring of the surface where the coating is customarily exteriorly disposed, is minimized. Where the illuminant tubing has the fluorescent material on the interior face, the absence of metallic tying members, normally employed with glass elevation posts heretofore known to me, minimizes the deteriorating effect of this coating.

Apart from the new and novel optical effects, it will be appreciated that the toughness and shockproofness of the material introduces a highly desirable feature in the installation for the purposes contemplated by me.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated an attaching clip 22 and standard 23, which engage the shank of the post It] by engaging any of the transverse grooves therein shown.

In another embodiment, illustrated in Figure 6, the shank 24 may be formed with a screw threaded section 25, where screw threaded adjustment may be found desirable.

It will be observed that while I have illustrated, and prefer to make my elevation post of'thermoplastic insulating material, wherein moderate temperatures may be used to shape the fingers I8 and I9 into enveloping engagement about an illuminant tube IE, it is contemplated by me that some of the novel effects of my invention may be secured, in part, by forming the post with an attaching seat having wire engaging horns customarily found in glass elevation posts.

Where these features are employed, it will be understood that the use of the optical properties of thermoplastic materials, such as the methacrylates and polystyrene synthetic resins, enhances the appearance of the illuminating assembly, particularly neon signs.

Other features incident to the employment of the thermoplastic materials I have mentioned will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevation post for luminous tubes com prising a body portion of insulating material having a shank portion for engagement with a surface attaching mechanism, one end whereof is provided with a seat, and tube engaging elements comprising at least one finger extended to one side of said seat of a length whereby upon lateral shaping of said finger about said tube it serves to hold said tube upon the seat comprising a thermoplastic resinous material deformable at moderate temperatures whereby mounting and removal may be made of said tubes.

2. An elevation post for luminous tubes having a shank and seat portion of insulating material and extension fingers disposed from said seat of thermoplastic synthetic resinous material deformable at moderate temperatures and positioned in respect of said seat whereby said tube may be laterally positioned upon said seat and thereupon the said fingers may be shaped to engage said tube at moderate temperatures.

3. An elevation postfor luminous tubes having a shank and seat portion of insulating material and extension fingers disposed from said seat of thermoplastic synthetic resinous material deformable at moderate temperatures and positioned in respect of said seat whereby said tube may be laterally positioned'upon said seat and thereupon the said fingers may be shaped to engage said tube, said synthetic material being a polystyrene polymer of substantially transparent characteristics.

4. 1m combination with luminous tube, an insulator elevation post of synthetic resinous material deformable at moderate temperatures having extension fingers of said material shaped about said tube and shrunk in situ into engaging position about said tube.

5. In the method of positioning luminous tubes in position by the seating of said tubes upon an insulator elevation post having thermoplastic extensions deformable at moderate temperatures, the steps which consist in locating the tube upon the seat and then in shaping in situ at moderate temperatures the extension of insulating material about said tube into engagement with said tubes and thermally setting the same in position.

6. In the method of positioning luminous tubes in position by seating of said tubes upon an insulator elevation post, having extensions and which is made of thermoplastic synthetic resinous material deformable at moderate temperatures, the steps which consist in positioning the tube upon the seat and then thermally shaping the extensions in situ at moderate temperatures into engaging position with said tube and setting the same to fixedly hold the extensions into engaging positions by permitting the same to cool.

SAMUEL C. MILLER.

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