Card – picture – or sign exhibiting – Illuminated sign – Edge illuminated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-27
2003-09-09
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Card, picture, or sign exhibiting
Illuminated sign
Edge illuminated
C040S564000, C040S001500, C040S334000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06615520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lighted article and more particularly to a lighted article having interchangeable display panels and brightly illuminated indicia.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lighted sign device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,612, as illustrated in FIG.
1
.
The prior art lighted sign device
100
in
FIG. 1
, has a light source
15
emitting light
16
into an inlet end
17
of crystalline light-conveying channels
19
of fiber optic cable
18
, illustrating light
21
being emitted over a much broader emission area and directed into a limited area of the light-inlet end
24
of crystalline light-conveying channels
26
of fiber optic plastic
22
, emitting light
13
of substantially even intensity over a much larger area of the light-outlet portion
25
of the fiber optic plastic
22
, such that light emitted or otherwise discernible as associated with the sign as viewed as it strikes the configuration-forming structure
29
and/or passes through the typical through-opening(s)
27
a
and
27
b
as light
28
a
and
28
b
, makes the defined letter(s), number(s), numeral(s), word(s) and/or other configuration(s) discernible and readable to the viewer of the sign during early morning, late evening and/or night when the light-source is activated to produce light. The fiber optic cable
18
has the fiber optic cable channel light-outlet portion
20
. The fiber optic plastic
22
has light-conveying channels
23
.
Lighted devices which use light-emitting diodes to illuminate transparent objects are also known in the art. For example, a lighted drinking container
200
using light emitting diodes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,553, as illustrated in FIG.
2
.
The drinking container
200
shown in
FIG. 2
includes an elongated sidewall portion
10
of cylindrical contour having a center axis of symmetry
11
and extending between an uppermost lip extremity
12
and a lowermost extremity
13
. The sidewall portion is bounded in part by opposed interior and exterior surfaces
14
and
15
, respectively.
Indicia
16
is engraved into exterior surface
15
. A decorative engraved band
17
encircles the sidewall as part of indicia
16
. The nature of the engraving is such that, when magnified, a “V” or wedge-shaped contour
18
is carved, molded or otherwise formed in the sidewall in a manner whereby the walls or facets of the wedge are angled with respect to axis
11
.
Further, a base portion
20
is bounded in part by opaque upper panel
21
that joins with the sidewall to form therewith a liquid-impervious vessel, and a flat lower panel
22
orthogonally disposed to the axis and defining with said upper panel an impervious sealable compartment
23
.
A lighting mechanism positioned and confined within compartment
23
includes a rechargeable battery
27
and at least one light-emitting diode (LED)
28
activated by the battery. If more than one LED is employed, the LEDs are equidistantly disposed in a circular array beneath sidewall portion
10
.
However, the above-referenced lighted devices
100
and
200
make ineffective displays for several reasons. For example, the lighted sign device of
FIG. 1
is large and cumbersome and could not be considered portable. In addition, the lighted sign device of
FIG. 1
has a light source which is removed from the display so that a large portion of the light is distributed throughout the panel without striking the indicia. In other words, only a small portion of the light generated is used to illuminate the indicia on the display making the sign inefficient. Moreover, the light source is perpendicular to the sign surface and shines light onto the entire surface of the sign not just the portion containing the indicia (e.g., writing, symbols or other message) which is to be conveyed to the viewer. Therefore, the message is illuminated little more than the remainder of the sign surface and is, therefore, hard to distinguish from the remainder of the sign.
The drinking container of
FIG. 2
unlike the sign of
FIG. 1
, disposes the light source adjacent to the container sidewall and may therefore, be more efficient in using the light generated from the light source and more effective at illuminating the indicia on the sidewall of the container. However, like the light source in the lighted sign
100
in
FIG. 1
, the light source in the drinking container
200
is removed from the sidewall of the container and, therefore, does not efficiently transmit light from the light source to the indicia. In addition, a considerable amount of light in the drinking container is lost near the light source through the lowermost extremity of the drinking container. As a result, an insufficient amount of light is directed to the indicia
16
making the glass an ineffective lighted display.
Furthermore, the indicia in the drinking container must be engraved into the display panel in a costly and time consuming operation. In addition, the color of the indicia when lighted is limited to the color of the light source, further limiting the effectiveness of the display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lighted article which may have interchangeable panels and which can be intensely and selectively illuminated to provide a three dimensional or depth effect.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lighted article which can effectively and efficiently display multicolored indicia, regardless of a color of a light source.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lighted article which is durable yet versatile in its application and can be used, for example, in pens, key chains, badges, etc.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lighted article which effectively illuminates indicia on a display panel and which is durable for use in rough environments.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective method of fabricating a lighted article with brilliantly illuminated indicia.
In a first aspect, the lighted article includes a base, a display panel having indicia inscribed thereon and coupled to a receptacle in the base, and the display panel also having at least one orifice. In addition, a lighting element having at least one light source protruding up from inside the receptacle is inserted into the orifice for illuminating the indicia. The inventive lighted article may form, for example, a lighted display plaque, pen, key chain, badge or other such lighted object.
Further, the display panel is not limited in its shape and may be, for example, flat, curved or cylindrical. Further, the display panel may be formed of acrylic or other clear material such as plastic or glass, and may be removably or permanently coupled in the base receptacle and may further be integrally formed with the base. In addition, the display panel may include a flange portion in which the orifices are disposed, and the receptacle and flange portion may have lateral edges that are tapered at an angle of about 30 degrees off vertical to optimize light transmission into the display panel. Further, the orifices may be polished to enhance the transmission of light into the display panel.
In addition, the inner walls of the receptacle may have a reflective coating for reflecting light into the display panel. Further, an upper portion of the receptacle walls may be elevated from a top surface of the base.
Further, the indicia may be etched into the display panel or printed on the display panel using a translucent ink. In addition, an ink having an etching property causing the ink to etch into the display panel may be used to provide brighter illumination of the indicia. Further, regardless of whether indicia are etched or printed, only the indicia containing portions of said display panel are intended to be illuminated, not the non-indicia containing portions of said display panel.
Further, the lighting element may include a power supply such a
Landers Stephen L.
Landers, Jr. Elorian C.
Sotelo Eric R.
Bellinger Jason R.
Geewhiz.com, Inc.
McGinn & Gibb PLLC
Morano S. Joseph
LandOfFree
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