Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Illuminated sign – Edge illuminated
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-20
2004-02-17
Hoge, Gary (Department: 3611)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Illuminated sign
Edge illuminated
C040S568000, C040S618000, C362S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06691443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to illumination devices and more particularly concerns an illuminator for use with boards displaying alpha-numeric/graphic information.
Alpha-numeric and graphic display boards such as the wall mounted menus commonly seen in fast food restaurants are presently illuminated externally by sources directing light toward the front of the board onto the information or by internal sources directing light from behind the board through the information.
Externally illuminated boards direct light toward the front of the board and reflect the light toward the observer. The reflecting surface may be a cover shielding the information or the information itself if no cover is present. Internally illuminated boards direct light through the information toward the observer or generally through both the information and a cover. The resulting reflection or refraction of light reduces the efficiency of the fixture and can have an irritating and harsh impact on the eyes of the observer. Also, if the light is angled with respect to the cover, dirt and imperfections on and defect in the cover are illuminated and enhanced to the eye of the observer.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a display board illuminator which is internally illuminated. Another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which is illuminated by an internal light source forward of the information being illuminated. A further object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which directs light toward the information and away from the observer. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which is structurally thin. It is also an object of this invention to provide a display board illuminator which reduces the possibility of light being reflected toward the observer. Still another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which reduces the possibility of light being directed toward the observer. An additional object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which reduces the possibility of light washing the face of the board. Another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which reduces the illumination and enhancement of dirt imperfections and defects on and in the cover. A further object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which has long life. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which is easily maintained and cleaned. It is also an object of this invention to provide a display board illuminator which is efficient in terms of power consumption and dispersion of light. Still another object of this invention is to provide a display board illuminator which enhances the visual clarity of the illuminated information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, an illuminator is provided for use with a board displaying alpha-numeric/graphic information on its front face. A lens is adapted to be disposed in front of the information. An array of light sources directly illuminates an edge of the lens and a plurality of grooves arranged in a front face of the lens disperses the light received from the array through the back face of the lens onto the information. Directly lighting the edge of the lens reduces the possibility of reflection of light from the illuminator toward the observer. Also, since only the edge is directly lighted, the illuminator does not significantly increase the overall thickness of the board.
In a preferred embodiment, a transparent cover is disposed against the front face of the lens. The cover protects and shields the lens from dirt, debris, scratches, nicks and other damage, is easily cleaned and can be inexpensively and quickly replaced. Also, masking strips can be disposed on the rear face of the cover so as to coincide with the grooves. The marking strips block light from being dispersed away from the information and also emphasize or frame the information being illuminated to the observer.
For boards displaying parallel lines or strips of alpha-numeric/graphic information on their front face, it is preferred that parallel grooves be positioned in the front face of the lens which can be orthogonally juxtaposed between the strips. This affords greater efficiency in the dispersion of light on the information. It is also preferred in the parallel arrangement that the lens has upper and lower edges which are parallel to the grooves and that an array of light sources illuminates one of the parallel edges or that two arrays of light sources illuminate both parallel edges. In a most preferred embodiment, the lens is rectangular and four arrays of light sources illuminate all the side edges of the lens. The preferred light sources are directional light emitting diodes.
The illuminator can be retrofitted to existing information boards or may be combined with a specially compatible board which has a front face with a plurality of spaced-apart channels for lateral slidable insertion and removal of the strips of information. Each of the channels has upper and lower flanges and a central rib along its length for engaging front and rear faces of the strips of information, respectively. The ribs push the strips forward against the flanges to firmly secure the strips in place.
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Catalano Frank J.
Hoge Gary
Lektron, Inc.
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