Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Illuminated sign – Lamp box
Utility Patent
1999-02-02
2001-01-02
Green, Brian K. (Department: 3628)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Illuminated sign
Lamp box
C040S570000, C040S572000, C313S051000, C362S812000
Utility Patent
active
06167648
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the illumination of signs which display a message or pattern.
2. Acknowledgement of prior art
In Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 issued Nov. 17, 1992 to Frederick Dimmick (who is also the inventor of the invention of the present application), there was disclosed and claimed a sign comprising at least one light pipe carrying at least on light emitting diode contained in one end and directed towards another end of the light pipe. The invention disclosed and claimed in Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 was intended to overcome many of the problems and disadvantages of the prior art. For example, the sign of Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186, comprising LEDs embedded in light pipes may reduce the maintenance and operating costs of signs in comparison with those of signs lit by incandescent or fluorescent or other light sources.
At the time that the invention of Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 was made, it was only possible to produce LEDs of relatively restricted illuminating power. At that time, for practical purposes, the maximum illumination obtainable from the LED was in the order of 300 millicandela. Due to this limitation, the light pipes of Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 could only be produced in short lengths if they were to provide bright illumination. For this reason, the invention was ideally suited to signs involving lettering, a separate light pipe being provided for each component of each letter. While this provides advantages if the LED in one light pipe fails, it is probable that the sign will still be readable, it does make the short light pipe lower power LED system of Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 less suitable for signs where full background lighting is required.
Full background lighting may be desirable in some or all of the following circumstances:
1. For signs of which the front screen may be interchangeable to vary the message given. For example, such a sign might indicate store specials which vary from week to week.
2. Signs having non-standard planar shape or signs having three-dimensional shape. Such signs have presented problems in uniform lighting when utilizing rigid straight lighting pipes spaced apart in parallel relationship.
3. When variably coloured lighting and other attention getting means such as flashing or varying illumination intensity of specific colours or areas of the sign is required from one part of the sign to another independent of any lettering or indicia on the sign. In this case, the signs may be conventional rectangular planar signs or they may be planar signs of other shapes or three-dimensional signs.
The use of neon or fluorescent or incandescent bulbs is commonly used to overcome some of the problems. However, neon and fluorescent tubes must be manufactured into any unconventional shape and, should the tube fail, the whole sign may be extinguished. Incandescent bulbs utilize large amounts of electricity and take up an appreciable amount of space. Moreover, they produce heat which may be undesirable in many circumstances.
The present inventor has addressed the problems and, in particular, has addressed the problem of making the lighting system of Canadian Patent No. 1,310,186 utilizing LEDs more suitable for a wider variety of signs especially those requiring generalized background light. Moreover, the inventor has tried to provide signs which require little thickness or depth from front to back and so may be suitable for positions where physical projection is undesirable and where sign of very low weight may be required or desired. Also the inventor has tried to provide a sign which the parts, particularly the light parts are quickly and easily adjustable in position, and removable and interchangeable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided an illuminatable sign comprising a front screen having translucent portions defining sign indicia; a back panel spaced from the front screen by at least one spacer; light modules arranged adjustably and removably between the screen and the back panel to provide illumination through said translucent portions; and means to connect said modules to a source of electrical power in such a manner that they are individually disconnectable and removable from said source and/or adjustable in position between said screen and said back panel. It is to be noted that, when used herein “translucent” includes “transparent”.
Preferably the modules comprise elongate bars carrying light elements, the bars having an electrical connector at each end for quick connection into and release from an electric circuit for providing power to said light elements.
For example, each module may comprise an elongate printed circuit board carrying light emitting diodes, the printed circuit board having an electrical connector at each end for snap fitting into an electrical circuit for providing power to the light emitting diodes. Preferably the printed circuit boards may be snapped into position in the electrical circuit in a variety of different positions.
Conveniently the electric circuit includes a network of at least one pair of power buses and a plurality of light modules. The power buses may be conductive bars or wires having dimensions to accept quick release connection of the printed circuit board modules thereto. The conductive bars or wires may be spaced apart by the distance equal to the length of the printed circuit boards or equal to the incremental repeated length of the circuit boards pattern and snap connections or clip sockets may be provided on the printed circuit boards at each increment repeat of pattern.
The clip sockets may, for example, be open ended slots having an upstanding conductive fence. Such clip sockets themselves are believed to be novel. Alternatively the clip sockets may be any conventional open ended clip socket.
Alternatively the means to connect the modules in such a manner that they are individually disconnectable and removable from the source, may be a prong and socket connection. The socket may be a helical compression spring about a bus wire as the source of electrical power. The prong may extend from the printed circuit board and may have a rectangular section and a tamped point. The dimension of the helical spring and the prong may be such that, when the prong is pushed into the spring to abut the bus wire, the spring compresses to increase its diameter to allow passage of the prong and tightens on the prong to hold it in contact with the bus wire.
The prong may be formed from cold-rolled half-hard, 70% cooper-30% zinc so that it may be bent as desired so that each module is located at any desired angle to the bus wire.
The invention may provide simple, cost effective and lightweight illuminated signs that have many features not available in current sign fabrication, including both manual and electrical means for:
1. Programming Features—the network or web of buses and clip on modules creates a matrix which may best be described as a macro hybrid integrated circuit, permitting unlimited permutations for controlling brightness, colour changes and mixes, as well as selected area illumination, i.e. lighting only the areas of the sign face which require illumination; additionally overall or selected area flashing and sequential lighting of characters, lines of text or graphics, the illumination is by diffusion presented evenly and not pixilated as with typical LED programmable signs.
2. Thin Design—The signs may be thin from front to back because the LEDs do not require much space.
3. Energy Efficient—From 10 to 40 watts per square meter.
4. Reliability—Low maintenance when lit with LEDs.
5. Versatile—Flexible wire buses and clip on circuit board modules can accommodate virtually any shape requiring illumination.
6. Safe Low Voltage Operation—Battery or eliminator powered, because of low power required can be placed in locations where hydro is unavailable, powered by solar array and batteries.
7. Down Light—It is possible to provide a “down light” which is desirable in many locations, fo
Green Brian K.
Ridout & Maybee
LandOfFree
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