AU2003100609B4 - Illuminated Sign - Google Patents

Description

28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 08

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT "Illuminated Sign" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method ofperforming it known to me: COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 09 2 ILLUMINATED SIGN Field of the Invention This invention concerns self illuminated lighting displays using light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Background of the Invention Outdoor signs impose special restrictions on design. They must resist attack by vandals, be maintenance free and be economical to install and run. The lower power requirements and long life attributes of LEDs are suited to incorporation in signs.

The public announcement signs, such as the PA in railway station destination boards sometimes make use of arrays of LEDs. These spell out words and are seen by the reader as points of light against a dark background. If this source of illumination could be used to illuminate indirectly, then fewer LEDs would be required.

Summary of the Invention This invention provides a selfilluminatable sign comprising, a sheet of light transparent material having a light receiving edge, markings provided on one side of the sheet, and a light source formed of a plurality of LEDs arranged to direct light through the light receiving edge to illuminate the markings.

The self illuminatable sign for a building is intended to be used with added numbers and/or letters. The sheets may comprise glass or light conducting polymer having a light receiving edge. The light source is preferably equispaced LEDs arranged to cast light on the said edge and includes means to connect the light source to a source of electric current.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867600 OOMPRA AE 1 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 3 Preferably the sheet defines a mounting surface for the letters and/or numerals, which may be sold separately in order to give the buyer a choice of font and styles. Using self adhesive characters is convenient and gives a readable sign at low light intensities. A change in opacity in the glass or glass substitute is sufficient to create a readable character. Thus the character may be created instead by etching or grit blasting the glass or glass substitute. Alternatively a separate sheet printed with charac-te~rs or other markings may be abutted against the transparent sheet.

In a version for displaying a house number, the sheet may be wide enough to take three numerals side by side. in a sign version, the sheet is elongated in order to carry several letters side by side, for example EXIT or CASUALTY DEPARTMENT or HOWARD STREET.

The light source may be one or more LEDs mounted in a holder to cast light onto the is receiving edge. The holder may obscure the LEDs so that they are unseen to the person reading the sign, but the holder reflects emissions to the receiving edge.

When the current source for the LEDs is one or more DC batteries, the holder may also accommodate the batteries. As the chief value of the device is as a night time display, the holder may also have a solar collector for trickle charging the batteries.

In other versions, the holder may have leads for connection to the DC currnt already aalable at the building entrance for an intemrco and the like from a mains powered step down transformer.

A light sensitive switch may turn the light source ON and OFF.

Brief Description of the Drawings One embodiment of the invention 1 together with an example of prior art, is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a diagram of a known sign using LED ilum-ination; COMS ID No: SMBI-0355785 Received by IP Australia: Time (Itm) 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867P0 MORCOM PEP.NAT PAGE 11 4 Figure 2 is an exploded schematic of one form of the invention showing how the LEDs provide indirect illumination; Figure 3 is an exploded schematic form of a different embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is an isometric view of the assembled sign of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows the cross-section of 5-5 taken through Figure 4, Detailed Description of the Drawings i0 The various elements identified by numerals in the drawings are listed in the following integer list.

Integer List 2 Sheet 4 Groove 6 Housing 8 Spring holders Mount 12 LED 14 Edge 16 Solar panel 18 Cover Numerals 30 Double sided sign 31 Transparent sheet 34 Groove 36 Housing 38 Printed sheet 40 Top cover 48 End cover Mount COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +6139886768 MORCOM PERRAT PAGE 12 52 LEDs 100 Letter 101 LED Referring to Figure 1, each letter 100 on a sign has a chain of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 101 all wired to a track which is in the shape of the letter T. These draw power from a 24v supply and need a system controller to adjust the brightness.

In Figure 2, the 5 x 47 x 51mm sheet 2 of methyl methacrylate is secured by glue in a groove 4 in hollow housing 6 made of an elongate extruded sheet of aluminium, The housing has spring bolders 8 for three lithium AA cells (1.2v) and a mount 10 for three orange, surface mounted LEDs 12. The LEDs emit light into the edge 14 of the sheet 2. The mount is reflective.

A solar panel 16 generates a trickle charge current of 200ma at 5v for the lithium dry cells. The solar panel 16 is an optional refinement and clips onto the holder. The ends of the housing are closed by covers 18.

The panel optionally incorporates a controller which switches the LEDs ON at night fall and OFF during daylight.

In use, the display is sold with the buyer's selection of markings such as self adhesive pvc sheet numerals or letters 20 which are stuck onto the surface of the glass, When the LEDs illuminate the glass, the emissions are largely unable to escape from the glass and reflect internally. Numerals are either illuminated or show in silhouette.

Alternatively, the sign can be custom built with the desired characters cut to suit customers requirements and sold as a ready to use installation.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, a double sided sign generally designated 30 comprises a pair of transparent sheets 31 of glass or plastic which are superimposed upon each other and sandwich the printed sheets 38 provided with markings therebetween.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 13 6 The assembly comprising the sandwich is held in a groove 34 formed in the elongate housing 36 located at the bottom of the double sided sign. As in the previous example, the housing may typically be formed of extruded aluminium.

Similarly, a top cover 40 overlaps the top of the assembly and end covers 48 close off opposite ends of the double sided sign.

A number of equispaced LEDs 52 mounted on the elongate mount 50 are retained within the groove 34 between the bottom edge of the transparent assembly and the bottom of the groove.

The sides of the housing extend sufficiently to completely enclose the assembly of LEDs and hold the bottom edge of the components forming the transparent assembly together. By constructing the device in this fashion, the LEDs are largely obscured from view giving a pleasing appearance to the design. As in the case of the embodiment described with reference to Figure 2, light from the array of LEDs passes through the bottom edges of both of the transparent sheets to illuminate the printed signs 38 on both sides of the double sided sign.

Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 28/07/2003 14:15 +61398867600 MORCOM PERNAT PAGE 14 7 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

The claims, illustrations, photographs and drawings, if any, form part of the disclosure of this specification as does the description, claims, illustrations, photographs and drawings of any associated provisional or parent specification or of any priority document, if any, all of which are imported hereinto as part of the record hereof.

Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements or parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00355765 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:19 Date 2003-07-28 c-

Claims (1)

1. A self illuminatable sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22nd day of October 2003 Charles Robert Hook by his patent attorneys Morcom Pernat