Robbery warning device containing selectively actuatable information bearing and warning displays

Claim 1

A robbery warning device, comprising, in combination: (a) a frame, said frame being substantially rectangular and including four substantially planar peripheral edge walls defining a through opening; (b) a translucent panel mounted on the frame over the through opening forming a front wall thereof, and having a pair of spaced, substantially parallel faces; (c) lamp means forming a sign and disposed within the through opening adjacent a one of the faces of the panel directed inwardly of the frame for being selectively energized and making visible through the translucent panel the sign formed by the lamp means, the lamp means including a first neon sign and a second neon sign disposed in superimposed relationship within the frame, said first neon sign being structured to provide a mundane message or advertisement, said second neon sign being structured to produce an emergency message, said first neon sign being positioned between said second neon sign and said translucent panel; (d) strobe means mounted in the frame for actuation when the lamp means is actuated, illuminating the panel and attracting attention to the sign formed by the lamp means and made visible by the lamp means when viewed from beyond the other of the faces of the panel, which other of the faces is directed outwardly of the frame; and (e) circuit means connected to said lamp means and said strobe means for controlling selective actuation of said first neon sign, said second neon sign, and said strobe means, said circuit means including a first switch means, said first switch means being normally closed for energizing the first neon sign, and a second switch means, said second switch means being normally open and selectively alternatively energizable for providing current to said second neon sign and said strobe means in unison and deenergizing said first neon sign.