Illumination – Illuminated scale or dial – Internal light source
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-29
2001-10-09
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Illuminated scale or dial
Internal light source
C362S023000, C362S026000, C362S027000, C362S029000, C368S067000, C368S227000, C116S280000, C116S316000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299321
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an improvement in illuminated devices such as electronic timepieces equipped for a conventional analog or digital display, indicator gauges, which may comprises a meter panel, directional gauges, ornamentation displays of an image, logo or design, and other similar articles which are illuminated for viewing under poor lighting conditions.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Historically, watches, gauges and other similar articles were first illuminated by using phosphorescent markings. However, when both the manufacturing methods of phosphorescent materials and the materials themselves proved to be medically and environmentally unacceptable, other illuminating means were developed. Some of these other means include the use of LED, LCD, and fluorescent devices, as well as incandescent bulbs. All of these proved to be unsatisfactory, especially for small devices such as wrist watches.
Additionally, these devices could not provide sufficient illumination due to a non-uniformity in brightness across the illuminated display surface. The insufficient illumination was the result of the positioning or shape of the light source itself which was either a point or linear source thereby making these illumination devices limited and unacceptable.
Recently, electroluminescent lighting, hereinafter referred to as EL, was introduced, for an analog or digital watches as another known alternative. An EL element is positioned underneath the watch dials, or other surfaces, or alternatively the dials themselves are made of an EL material, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,977-Sliker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,964-Alessio & Olsen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,869 Hanaoka, U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,046 Kamede U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,334 Kamede. In all of these references direct illumination is provided upward towards the viewer, restricting any aesthetic aspects such as a full color logo or colored images on the dial. Another disadvantage of EL's is that they require complicated auxiliary circuitry. Moreover, the lighting colors are determined by phosphorus contents of the EL, and are limited commercially to colors such as blue-green, white and yellow.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an objective of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages encountered in the prior art and provide a system through which sufficient illumination can be provided to both indicia of interest as well as logos and other decorative elements.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an illumination device for an electronic or analog timepiece, indicator gauge, directional gauge or ornamental device or other articles eliminating any EL as the illumination source and its associated circuitry.
Another objective of the invention is to provide an improved illumination apparatus for viewing the dial or surface of various objects by positioning an illumination device to direct light in a direction towards the subject to be illuminated which makes viewing easier, more efficient and less stressful to the viewer.
A further objective of this invention is to provide in situations such as limited lighting or at night time, the cosmetic illumination of single or multiple color images, logos or items located on or about the surface of a timepiece, indicator or directional gauges or ornamentation devices.
The present invention seeks to attain these objectives by disposing a light-emitting element, on or inside a light transmissive surface of the article to be illuminated. This element is positioned in the center, sides or in a random placement and rendered light emissive or is activated by means of an electronic circuit which is installed within or in proximity of said article. An illumination switch controlled by an external control member is provided on the case of the article for selectively activating the light emitting element.
More particularly, the light source is disposed either on an inner surface of, or is imbedded within the cover or article itself, in such a manner that is virtually invisible to the viewer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3754130 (1973-08-01), Stone et al.
patent: 4115994 (1978-09-01), Tomlinson
patent: 4328532 (1982-05-01), Smith
patent: 4330877 (1982-05-01), Barnes
patent: 5295049 (1994-03-01), Terada
patent: 5984485 (1999-11-01), Poli et al.
patent: 6106127 (2000-08-01), Fuwausa
Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman P.C.
Luminary Logic LTD
Negron Ismael
O'Shea Sandra
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