Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Display with special effects – Selective or intermittent illumination
Patent
1998-04-22
2000-12-12
Davis, Cassandra H.
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Display with special effects
Selective or intermittent illumination
40541, G09F 1308
Patent
active
061581569
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to display or decorative panels having a variable visual appearance in accordance with differing light conditions.
Panels of the above description may be used for purely decorative purposes or, additionally, for the display of information on a permanent or intermittent basis. When the information is required for display only on an intermittent basis, it is considered advantageous if the presence of information graphics is not visible to an observer until the information becomes relevant to the situation and is to be displayed. A well-known technique for rendering more-or-less hidden graphics into a visible condition is to provide these on the reverse surface of a partially translucent panel and provide illumination from behind the reverse surface of the panel, i.e. from the opposite face of the panel to that viewed by the observer. Such a panel is conveniently referred to as a "back-lit" panel, or a "secret-till-lit" panel.
In such an arrangement, in addition to the information conveyed to the viewer by the hidden graphics, there may be provided further information, conveniently printed upon the obverse surface of the panel, which remains visible under all lighting conditions.
The present invention provides a display panel comprising a plurality of layers, said layers including a first, at least partially transparent, layer, and a second layer, at least selected areas of said second layer having a degree of contrast in opacity and/or colour, said first and second layers being associated with a substrate layer having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, wherein means are provided for furnishing said substrate layer with a partially transparent tinted appearance, wherein said first layer comprises a coating comprising a transparent carrier in which are supported non-opaque particulate light-splitting or light-frequency modifying materials, said materials being capable of causing light-splitting effects when viewed in light falling in the direction of the obverse surface of said substrate layer, and wherein said second layer provides said at least selected areas rearwardly of said first layer which are of predetermined size and shape, the construction and arrangement being such that the light-splitting or modifying effect caused by said particulate material in said first layer and visible in ambient light, is suppressed by the passage of light from a source located at the reverse side of the panel so that the presence of said at least selected areas become visible from the obverse side of the panel.
Advantageously, a suitable first layer may be provided by comprising an at least substantially transparent carrier containing particulate semi-transparent colour producing material. A suitable material may be a flaked, iridescent material of the kind exemplified by mica. Mica flakes may be pre-coated with ultra-thin layers of pigment, for example oxides of metals such as titanium or iron.
Advantageously, the visual effect of the presence of the pigment may be varied according to the thickness of the pre-coating. Variations may also be observed in accordance with the base colour of the substrate layer and the degree of translucency thereof.
Advantageously, said second layer may be provided as graphics in the form of information symbols applied in a discontinuous layer of an opaque or substantially opaque pigment. Conveniently said pigmented material may be printed pigmented ink or the like.
Alternatively said second layer may be colour tinted in a contrasting hue so that the colour tint is visible only on the passage of light from a source located at a reverse side of the panel.
The present invention further provides a display panel comprising a substrate layer and a coating layer applied to an obverse surface of the layer, said coating comprising non-opaque particulate light-frequency modifying materials entrained in a carrier therefor, said particulate materials being capable of causing light splitting effects when viewed in light falling upon the c
REFERENCES:
patent: 3499240 (1970-03-01), Cotton, Jr. et al.
Davis Cassandra H.
John McGavigan Limited
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