AU2003264602A1 - Portable illuminated sign - Google Patents

Description

11776AU

ORIGINAL

Complete Specification Applicant: Exhibition and Theatre Projects Pty Ltd Title: Portable illuminated sign Address for Service: LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Portable illuminated sign The present application relates a portable illuminated sign and in particular to a battery operated portable illuminated sign.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Signs are used everywhere to convey information. One of the most prolific uses of signs is in the area of advertising. Numerous signs have been developed with this purpose in mind with many having extra features to assist in promoting their message.

For example, many signs include reflective layers so that they are visible at night especially when illuminated by vehicle headlights. Others still are self-illuminating either through back lighting through a transparent panel or by using illuminating lights. Signs may also include a number of small illuminating globes that are lit up in a pre-determined arrangement, the globes themselves forming the advertising image whether it is a logo or text.

One of the problems of illuminated signs is that they need to be connected to a power grid. Such signs are therefore typically fixed signs in that they are placed in a certain position and are not moved. Not only does this mean that the signs are not portable, but fixing them in place makes them vulnerable to vandalism.

Other signs that are not necessarily connected to mains power use heavy-duty batteries that may be rechargeable from mains power or from the use of solar cells. The problem with this arrangement is that to provide the desired lighting the batteries need to be of significant capacity since lights, even over 4 to 6 hours, consume a considerable amount of power. Since battery capacity is generally correlated with size, for a battery to be capable of illuminating a sign for that length of time, it needs to be quite large. Once again this causes the signs to be generally fixed and not portable.

There are yet other problems in existing signs such as ease of transportation and ease of updating the sign or the advertising message.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least some of the abovementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable battery powered illuminated sign where the battery is of a manageable size and where the power consumption by the sign is efficient enabling the sign to operate for a useful length of time.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide for a sign that has the ability to visually enhance discrete areas of the sign.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore in one form of the invention there is proposed an illuminated sign including: an upright frame mounted on a base and adapted to support an advertising sheet; a plurality of lights proximate said edge of said sheet to illuminate it, said lights powered by a battery mounted on said frame. Such a sheet usually contains printed matter that serves as a sign.

Preferably said lights are mounted vertically on an electronic board mounted on said frame.

Preferably said lights are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

Preferably each light is provided a pulsed source of current when it is turned on.

Preferably there are several groups of lights connected in series, each group being turned on at a different time to at least one other group.

Preferably said sheet is illuminated by sequentially turning on the different groups of lights.

Preferably the highest group is turned of first followed by the group immediately below until all of the groups have been turned on.

Preferably a group that has been turned on may be turned off regardless the operation of any other group.

Preferably the very first group that is turned on is provided with a continuous source of current wherein subsequent groups that are turned on are provided with a pulsed source of current.

Preferably pulse width modulation is selectively applied across all of the lights.

Preferably each group has 6 lights and there are three groups.

Preferably another set of lights is mounted proximate the opposing edge of said poster.

Preferably said sign further includes a support for additional sheets such as but not limited transparent plastic protective sheets.

Preferably said sign further includes at least one pendulum rod pivotably attached adjacent the top of the sign and allowed to freely rotate around that pivot, the rod being of such a length to engage the ground when the sign has tilted more than a pre-determined degree of rotation.

Preferably said sign further includes a second poster mounted opposite and on the other side of the sign.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several implementations of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings, Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 is a perspective view of a sign embodying the present invention; is a perspective view of the sign of Figure 1 illustrating in more detail the use of multiple edge lights; is a cross-sectional view of the sign of Figure 1 across section A-A'; is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternate location of individual lights; is a partial rear perspective view of a sign embodying the present invention and illustrating the battery; is a partial underside perspective view illustrating the replacement of individual signs; is a front view of the sign of Figure 1 when partially illuminated and at the beginning of the illumination sequence; is the sign as in Figure 7 but when partially through the illuminating sequence; is a sign embodying the present invention and of a generally horizontal configuration; Figure 9 Figure 10 is a sign embodying the present invention and of a generally circular configuration; Figure 11 is a circuit diagram of a sign embodying the present invention and including 12 sets of 6 lights edge illuminating a vertical sign; Figure 12 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a sign that can provide a sign both at the front and at the back; Figure 13 is a perspective view of an extrusion used in the sign of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of the extrusion of Figure 13 when used to support various pats of the sign; Figure 15 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a cap used in the sign of Figure 12; Figure 16 is a view as in Figure 15 but in an exploded configuration; Figure 17 is a side view of the sign embodying the present invention; and Figure 18 is a side view of the sign embodying the present invention including an antifall mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Although the description includes exemplary embodiments, other embodiments are possible, and changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts.

Referring now to the Figures there is illustrated a sign 10 including a rectangular frame 12 fixedly attached to and supported by a H-shaped base 14, the base 14 including two parallel spaced apart longitudinal support beams 16a and 16b, each beam supporting intermediate its ends a post 18a and 18b respectively for holding the frame 12. Located on each end of the support beams 16 and 16b are wheels 20 enabling the sign to be moved around with relative ease. The wheels are typically castor wheels and are the same as those found on common furniture such as chairs and whiteboards. The wheels may further include a locking means. However, in some applications it may be desirable to have large wheels when, for example, the sign is being transported over rough ground. It is also to be understood that the base may include wheels only on one end of the beams 16a and 16b, the sign then moved around by lifting one end of the base, much like a wheelbarrow. Extending proximate one of the ends of the beams 16a and 16b is a bracing member 22. Typically the bracing member extends across the rear of the sign.

The frame is defined by posts 18a and 18b extending upwardly from the base 14 that are connected together by connecting beam 24 adjacent the bottom of the frame and across the top by connecting beam 26. Both the posts and the connecting beams are of a tubular square cross-sectional configuration.

Extending around the posts and the connecting beams are side U-channels 28a and 28b. Extending across the back of the sign is a rigid rear panel 30 to provide support for poster 32, the poster typically made from flexible material. The poster is held into place by a downward lip 34 on the connecting beam 26 and a rotatable support 36 rotatably connected to the bottom connecting beam 24. Support 36 can be horizontally rotated away from the footprint of the poster 32 enabling the poster to be slidably removed from frame 12 and replaced. Of course, the whole sign has to be tilted, generally by 90 degrees, to allow the poster to be removed. The frame is typically made from powder coated steel body sections.

Extending vertically and aligned inside the U-channels 28a and 28b in front of the poster 32 are a plurality of lights 38. In this particular configuration there are thirty six individual lights 38 inside each side of the frame 12. Three lights on each side make up a single row, so that there are 12 evenly spaced horizontal rows per side that illuminate the poster or the sign face. The lights then illuminate the poster 32.

The frame is around some 65 millimeters in depth to accommodate the lights.

Located across the top of the frame is a top section including an additional reverse folded panel to provide protection for the electronic drive system that drives the lights as described below.

The separation of the lights and their total number is determined in part by the specification of the lights. Typically bright LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are used, each LED having a 20 degrees throw, each LED separated from the one above and below by a distance of some 32 millimetres. The LEDs produce white light although coloured ones may equally well be used, as may be a combination of colours.

The control of the LEDs is through a control panel (electronic drive system) centrally located within the top of the frame and connected to each LED through wiring located on the inside of the frame. Power for the LEDs and the control panel is provided from battery 42 housed in a waterproof cabinet 44 including an access door 46. Thus in normal operation the LEDs provide edge illumination to the poster or sign face, the separation and position of the LEDs determined by their specifications thus ensuring that the whole poster is illuminated.

Each LED row includes 6 LEDs running in series with a current limiting resistor.

Three LEDs are on the left and three LEDs on the opposite right side of the sign. Series wiring is used to physically connect the opposing arrays together through the control panel that includes a micro board.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it has been discovered that by configuring the operation of the LEDs, it is possible to provide illumination of the sign for some four to six hours using a rechargeable battery as can be found for example in numerous cordless drills. Use of these batteries has the advantage that they are mass-produced and are therefore relatively cheap. Also, they can be easily recharged over a few hours and are easy to use.

To achieve this, the LEDs are configured so that they light up sequentially, typically in blocks of 6, with LEDs on either side being synchronised, starting from the top downwards.

Thus, a typical cycle for the operation of the sign includes a first block of LEDs, generally twelve LEDs lit up on either side (total of 24 LEDs). After a pre-determined period, generally less than a second, a further block of LEDs is illuminated, typically six on either side until all of the LEDs are turned on. Operation of the sign in this fashion has several advantages.

Firstly, not all of the LEDs are on all the time obviously saving on power. Secondly, the viewer is not only attracted to the sign by the illumination of it by the LEDs but also by the change in the illumination pattern. This also has the effect of drawing the viewer's eye to what the message that is displayed on the poster may be. A snap-shot of operating a sign in this way is illustrated in Figure 1 where the poster has three separate advertising messages.

Half-way through the sequence, only the top two messages 50 and 52 are illuminated, the bottom message 54 remaining unlit.

A sign such as this also has the advantage of being able to be programmed to operate the LEDs in any particular configuration. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 7 and 8, instead of all of the LEDs being progressively illuminated, the LEDs may be turned on and off down the poster, in Figure 7 the top message 50 being illuminated and in Figure 8 only the middle message 52 being illuminated.

Of course, the illumination does not have to "travel" downwards. As illustrated in Figure 9 the sign could utilise LEDs located across the top and bottom of the sign, the LEDs located on the inside of the frame as illustrated in Figure 4. Of course, the LEDs need to be positioned to illuminate the sign 32 fully.

In another alternate configuration, and as illustrated in Figure 10, the sign may be of a circular construction.

To further assist in minimising the power consumption without sacrificing the illumination of the sign we have discovered that it is possible to reduce the total current drain on the battery by reducing the current drawn by each LED. This is achieved by using pulse width modulation to pulse each LED at a rate indiscernible to the human eye but that saves on the power drain. For example, if the pulse rate of the LEDs was reduced by around 10%, this is a direct saving in the amount of current drawn and thus the battery life is conserved by around 10%. At the same time use of the pulse modulation technique does not affect the colour temperature of the LED.

The skilled addressee can now appreciate the advantages of the present invention.

The micro board enables the 12 arrays of LEDs to be turned on in a programmable, repeatable sequence to highlight any part of the sign face and thus message. Illumination of the individual twelve rows in any order and for any period is achievable by using a suitable program. A watchdog timer circuit can be used to reset the complete system if there is a fault such as one that may be caused due to EMC, power surge or other undetermined action. The timer circuit can check the system at a pre-set sampling rate, such as every 250 milliseconds, this being programmable.

Each array of LEDs is supplied power from a transistor that is controlled by putting its corresponding controlling micro port into a high state. This enables pulse width modulation to be employed to then conserve power by pulsing the LEDs at a rate where the brightness is not discernible to the eye and yet saving power and hence increasing battery life.

The LEDs typically require just fewer than 4 Volts to run thus the voltage used by the system was some 24 Volts to enable 6 LEDs to be run in series. Changing the operating voltage can of course allow the operator to select the number of LEDs that can be run in series, 24 Volts chosen in this case as being a safe voltage to operate at optimum current consumption.

Pulse width modulation is used to vary the on-time of the LEDs immediately behind the current LED being powered, thus accurately controlling and minimising the current usage at any time.

The present invention therefore provides for a sign that is portable, includes programmable lighting with its own battery supply, enables advertising images to be replaced quickly and easily, can be easily disassembled for transportation and is durable and wether resistant. Advertising images such as 5 mm thick coreflute panels some 600x1200 mm can be significantly enhanced by the use of the LEDs to provide lighting.

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope.

For example, the sign may not need to have supporting wheels and as shown in Figures 5 and 6 is supported purely on the base. In addition, the base may include hollow mounts adapted to be engaged by the projections of the frame. The base may also include ballast to assist in stability.

Further, although the above description was for a sign having only one sign face, the present invention could equally well be employed for signs having faces in two opposing directions, one having a triangular configuration with three sign faces at 120 degrees to each other or indeed a sign having four sign faces 90 degrees to each other.

Thus, in an alternate aspect of the invention and as illustrated in Figures 12 to 16 there is illustrated such a sign that accommodates the viewing of signs both at the "front" and the "back'. Referring to those drawings in particular thus there is shown a sign support 100 including two parallel upright extrusions 102 coupled at the bottom by a C-channel 104 and at the top by two parallel rods 106, cap 108 providing a cover plate. The C-channel 104 is mounted on top of two legs 1 10a and 110 b that rest on the ground. Castor wheels 112 attached on the end of each leg allow the sign to be tilted and wheeled for storage purposes.

Figure 13 illustrates in more detail the extrusion 102, whilst Figure 14 illustrates the extrusion when supporting various parts that make up the sign. Thus extrusion 102 includes a central support region 114 having several opposing parallel slits 116 and 118 that are adapted to accommodate a board 120 housing lights or LED's 122. Of course, to ensure even illumination there is an opposing board housed by the opposing extrusion.

Each outer side 124 of the extrusion includes a channel or groove 126 so dimensioned to vertically support one or more sheets of material that may, for example, include a transparent front cover plate 128, a printed sign 130, and a rear transparent plate 132, the plates providing protection for the sign 130.

Power for the lights 122 is provided by a battery pack 134 that is located within the C-channel 104 and whose width is such that it allows for the sheets of material 128,130 and 132 to sit alongside it.

To provide protection for the sign and to allow for the easy replacement of any of the equipments, the top of the sign includes cap 108 having two external flanges 136 that are located over the edge of the sign. To bias the cap in place, biased springs 138 include a indent 140 that engage rod 106 to hold the cap in place and yet allow for the easy removal of the cap to enable access to the interior of the sign.

In use the cap is thus easily removable allowing the sheets of material to be easily lifted out and a replaced by new ones. Additionally, it allows for the easy replacement of the board 120 housing the lights 122 and that houses the necessary electronic componentry (not shown). The reader should now appreciate that this type of sign enables the user to quickly replace components that can then be repaired at an alternate site whilst ensuring that the sign continues to be effectively used.

To provide some anchoring of the sign, each of the legs 110 include at their ends a plate 142 whose lower edge 144 extends beyond the bottom surface 146. The lower edge has the effect of "biting" into the ground on which it is located preventing the sign from being dragged along.

In those situations where there may be high wind or the sign is accidentally knocked into a pendulum rod 148 located on each extrusion and pivotably attached adjacent the top of the extrusion around pivot point 150 prevents the sign from falling over. As illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 when the sign is tilted the rod 148, which is made of relatively heavy material, remains in the generally upright position by swinging in direction 152, its lower end being free to engage the ground at point 154. With opposing parallel rods on each extrusion this effectively prevents the sign from falling over not only protecting the sign but the public.

Although not shown, each rod may have a securing clip, since this may be required when transporting the sign to and from storage.

Yet further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

11 In the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Dated this Friday, November 28, 2003 Exhibition and Theatre Projects Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys LESICAR PERRIN

Claims (17)

1. An illuminated sign including: an upright frame mounted on a base and adapted to support an advertising sheet; a plurality of lights proximate said edge of said sheet to illuminate it, said lights powered by a battery mounted on said frame.

2. An illuminated sign as in claim 1 wherein said lights are mounted vertically on an electronic board mounted on said frame.

3. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims wherein said lights are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

4. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims wherein each light is provided a pulsed source of current when it is turned on.

An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims wherein there are several groups of lights connected in series, each group being turned on at a different time to at least one other group.

6. An illuminated sign as in claim 5 wherein said sheet is illuminated by sequentially turning on the different groups of lights.

7. An illuminated sign as in claim 6 wherein the highest group is turned of first followed by the group immediately below until all of the groups have been turned on.

8. An illuminated sign as in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein a group that has been turned on may be turned off regardless the operation of any other group.

9. An illuminated sign as in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the very first group that is turned on is provided with a continuous source of current wherein subsequent groups that are turned on are provided with a pulsed source of current.

10. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims where pulse width modulation is selectively applied across all of the lights.

11. An illuminated sign as in any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein each group has 6 lights and there are three groups.

12. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims wherein another set of lights is mounted proximate the opposing edge of said poster.

13. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims further including a support for additional sheets such as but not limited transparent plastic protective sheets.

14. An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims further including at least one pendulum rod pivotably attached adjacent the top of the sign and allowed to freely rotate around that pivot, the rod being of such a length to engage the ground when the sign has tilted more than a pre-determined degree of rotation.

An illuminated sign as in any one of the above claims further including a poster mounted on the other side of the sign.

16. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1 to 11.

17. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 12 to 18.