Electric lamp or space discharge component or device manufacturi – Process – Combined – e.g. – with shaping of lamp or device envelope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-04-10
Ramsey, Kenneth J. (Department: 2879)
Electric lamp or space discharge component or device manufacturi
Process
Combined, e.g., with shaping of lamp or device envelope
C439S786000, C024S341000, C403S397000, C403S398000, C040S124070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213835
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
#1 Field of the Invention
The present invention generally involves the field of technology pertaining to neon lighting, and more particularly to neon letters and numbers which, due to a new art in forming the letters as a method of bending each letter on a flat surface and bringing all tube ends within the dimensional confines of the letter itself, yet allowing sufficient access for exhausting tubes and electrical hookups. The letters have no bendbacks or exhaust tube bendouts to hamper the use they were made for, that is, to be attached to state-of-the-art clip which can hold the letter firmly in one clip while allowing a second clip to change its angle to accommodate the different angles found in handmade neon shapes, then to snap onto the rods which are part of the frame used to support the letters. This frame is made of two metal rods, one separated from the other by two mounting strips of plastic with three holes, two for the rods to go through providing the proper separation to secure the two rods as far apart as the letters require for support and secure mounting, then while snapping onto this frame. The clip also containing an electric contact, will connect one side of the DC current used to illuminate the letters using one each of two clips, one to each of the two rods and will supply DC to the letters from a 110 V transformer connected to an end piece which holds the rods and electrically connects the rods. The third hole in the plastic strip is used to hang or otherwise mount the sign, the same strip of plastic having three holes so placed that they can also be used to support a second, third or more equal length signs, one under the other. The holes have been placed just for this purpose. Each letter will support a small electrical converter which converts the very low voltage of the DC transformer to high enough voltage to light the neon. A clip is provided for the converter to be snapped onto each letter.
#2 Description of Prior Art
Nothing found of significance to our claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention shapes, letters and numbers can be made from neon tubing in a new way which permits the forms to be totally flat and only as thick as the tube it is bent from, larger radiuses with fewer sharp bends in the glass thus making it easier to bend the forms of letters and other shapes, very important in the manufacturing of tubular glass parts and because of the planar construction of the neon lights, it is easier to securely mount the fragile glass flat on a simple frame with snap clips made of plastic that are part of this invention as the state of the art letter attachment clip makes an individual letter approach of neon signs possible and practical. The mounting device provides two clips opposing each other through a mechanical system which allows one clip to be aligned with the other clip designed for any two objects to be attached to each other, a neon letter handmade of non-precision and irregular glass tubes can be properly mounted and align with the parts used in supporting them, also the clip serves to provide power from the metal frame to the converter that produces the high voltage to light the tube by having a hole just below the arc that receives the frame rod, allowing a bare wire to be fed through and bent over the bottom of the arc, making a firm electrical contact to the frame rod when inserted. The electricity to power the neon sign is from a series of connections starting with a low voltage transformer plugged into a 110 V wall outlet, then its 12 V DC lead is plugged into a receptical at the end of the sign endpiece wherein wires are connected to spring clips which hold rods in position, current flows through the rods to the mounting clips, then to the converter which uses the 12 V DC delivered to it to boost the voltage to 1000 volts which is connected to the cathode leads of the letter it will light. Also the rod is easy to snap in and snap out due to the appendages mounted on each lip of the clip so when the fingers push down on these appendages, the clip is forced open by spreading the lips of the clip, the side pressure is removed from the rod. It will then easily move in or out of the clip.
Another feature of the invention is the do it yourself possibility as a simple no tools needed way to connect the wires, is shown.
It is the object of this invention to show that the design for the new letters is not obvious as there are many ways of mounting a standard neon letter, but the old design did not accommodate the use that the new letters can be put to. Thus the present need did not inspire changes in the letter design as the new forms of mounting were not available so I have invented a new kind of mounting clip which leads the line of thought to use these letters in many formerly unobvious ways. In fact, both the new mounting clip and the newly designed letters, each by themselves, would have been completely overlooked as needed items.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide devices to make a neon sign from which its letters can be removed, serviced, changed or replaced.
It is also the object of the present invention to show that by a new art a neon sign can be made fuctional by lower voltage and safer electrical components combined with a new form of neon letters which are more compact and of a single plane in construction thus easier to transport and making it much easier to mount and maintain,
It is another object of the invention, to produce such a neon tube that is flat and can be used to make signs only as thick as the glass tubes used to make the letter itself.
It is another object of the invention, that approximately 100 seven inch letters can be safely packed with separate containers in a carton only 2×1×1 cu. feet.
It is yet another object of the invention, that the neon letters are formed to the confines of the dimensions of the letter with no extended exhaust tubes or electrical appendages extended.
It is yet another object of the invention, to make a neon letter that can be mounted individually upon a frame.
It is a further object of the invention, that a new, slim frame is used to mount a set of single letters and support the functional needs of the letters.
It is yet another object of the invention that the voltage needed to supply a single letter is low enough not to create a damaging electronic field, therefore no television or radio interference.
It is a further object of this invention to produce a new system of neon signs that allow complete changes of letters in minutes.
It is the object of this invention, to show that when a change is needed in a regular neon sign, it will have to be discarded and a new sign made. But with a sign made in this new form, you need only rearrange letters or perhaps add a few low cost additional letters to make the new sign fully usable at a fraction of the cost of making a new sign. Signs can be moved to new locations without the help of technicians, eadily disassembled, packed up and moved and are reusable in minutes at the new location.
Another unobvious feature is that neon can be used for many things it was never previously used for, such as the daily winning lottery numbers. Numbers can be changed in minutes, also daily specials, changing gasoline prices at the pump, flight information and movie marquees, etc.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3447253 (1969-06-01), Coad
patent: 4666109 (1987-05-01), Fallon et al.
patent: 4688961 (1987-08-01), Shioda et al.
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