AU2007100181A4 - Emergency lighting exit signage - Google Patents

Description

08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 06/23 o EMERGENCY LIGHTING EXIT SIGNAGE CAl This application is a divisional application of Australian Innovation Patent No.

C 2005100592 the entire disclosure which is incorporated herein by reference.

o This innovation or invention relates to emergency exit signage in which the legend elements (normally consisting of the word EXIT with or without arrows or a 0 0 pictogram with or without an arrow) may be changed. In a preferred embodiment it Srelates to emergency exit signage in which the legend elements may be changed and o which provides a high degree of vandal resistance and which is tamper resistant.

There are a number of types of prior art emergency EXIT signs. The most commonly used prior art emergency exit sign is internally illuminated and comprises a contrasting transilluminated white legend spelling the word EXIT on a green background in a form and of dimensions that comply with AS/NZS 2293.1 3 requirements. The legend elements are generally in the form of self adhesive sheets applied onto the external visible surfaces of a sign's translucent diffuser(s) and thus are subject to tampering or defacing by vandals since they are easily accessible above doors, along egress or escape routes and similar in buildings. This is a major safety concern since these exit signs are the only visual directional information normally available in a building directing evacuees to the nearest fire exit and safety in an the event of an emergency arising requiring a forced evacuation.

Because the legend elements are normally applied directly onto the external surface of the translucent diffuser(s), electrical wholesalers normally stock a number of different exit signs or legend elements or diffuser permutations and combinations or shelf adhesive sheets which allow arrow(s) to be peeled off to take into account their customers i.e. electrical contractors, requirements. A maximum of four different exit signs or legends would be required to be stocked with this EXIT type i.e. the word EXIT

I

COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 07/23 Swith either a left or a right arrow; or with both le and rightarrows; or the Sword EXIT without any arrows. n the near future the legislative requirements for exit 0 signs will change and the word EXIT will not be used. The symbol of a running person a pictogram will replace the word EXIT to comply with international ndards specifically ISO 3864-1. This standard sets out the specific form, colour and dimensions Srequired to comply. It will be an advantage to enable an electrical wholesaler or contractor to stock or use a single exit sign in which the legend elements may be easily o changed using the running person pictogram/symbol.

SIt is highly desirable that the exit sign legends be such that the intended directional information may not be easily tampered with or the directional egress/escape information unintentionally changed after installation and/or during the life of such signage i.e. it is preferred that they be reasonably tamperproof and resistant to vandal attacks.

Emergency exit signs include a body which generally incorporates a gear tray containing lamp and battery control devices, batteries or uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to illuminate exit signs in the event of a power failure and have one or more illuminated diffusers depending on whether the exit sign is to be suspended from a ceiling or affixed to a wall. Wall mounted signs usually have only one diffuser.

However exit signs suspended from the ceiling may have two or more diffusers.

The legend should be such that a passer by cannot easily remove it or alter the intended egress route without either dismantling the diffuser from the body and/or using hand tools in a simular manner to standard electrical safety requirements. The use of hand tools to gain access to electrical equipment has long been recognised by most international standards i.e. IEC ISO as a mandated safety requirement. All exit signs will become subject to these requirements with the adoption of the new Australian 2 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 08/23 standard for emergency liglting in buildings AS60598.

2 22 due to mandated by ct Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB).

It is an object of the present innovation or invention to overcome or alleviate one 0or more of the difficultes associated with prior art emergency lighting signs.

The present inventors have solved the problem by having one or more clear diffuser covers overlying the diffusers and releasably secured to the diffuser or to the Sbody. Interchangeable legends are sandwiched between the diffuser(s) and the clear 0 diffuser covers.

*Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an illuminated exit sign including a body having a translucent diffuser; a diffuser cover releasably secured to said diffuser or said body; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover.

It has been suggested in the prior art relating to advertising signs that an advertising message can be sandwiched between a diffuser and a clear cover. This prior art does not form part of the common general knowledge in Australia in the field of emergency exit signs. In this prior art, the changing of the advertising message often involves complicated process of disassembling the sign or involves external clamping devices. The present inventors have solved this problem by having an emergency exit sign where the transparent diffuser cover is releasably secured to the diffuser or body by releasable cooperating formations of the diffuser cover and of the diffuser or body.

Therefore according to this embodiment of the invention, there is provided an illuminated exit sign including: a body having a translucent diffuser; a transparent diffuser cover releasably secured to said diffuser or said body by releasable cooperating formations of the diffuser cover and of the diffuser or body; and 3 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-99901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE o a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover, wherein the diffuser cver is moved into face to face relationship with the diffuser werein the diffuser cover is movea Sso as to engage the cooperating releasable formations together and retain the legend Selement sandwiched between the diffuser and diffuser cover.

An exit sign where the assembly comprising te clear diffuser cover and legend 00 ta in the field of emergency can be selectively demounted in a single step is an advantage inthe field of emergency exit signs. The known prior art relates to advertising signs where there may be onlyon Sor two present in a store. There may be hundreds of emergency exit signs in a single building and so it is desirable that the legend may be placed into the sign quickly and easily or changed quickly and easily to reduce the costs associated with the placement of emergency exit signs in buildings.

Another way in which the present inventors have overcome the deficiencies associated with prior art advertising signs is to secure the diffuser permanently or removably to the body and separately removably secure the diffuser cover to the diffuser or the body. In a preferred embodiment this allows the diffuser cover to be removed without the need for removing the diffuser from the body.

In a further embodiment, the assembly comprising at least the clear diffuser cover and a legend element can be selectively dcmounted in a single step for enabling access to the legend element. The diffuser assembly can also include the diffuser, legend element and clear diffuser cover.

According to AU 2005100592 there is provided an internally illuminated emergency exit sign including: a body having a translucent diffuser; a clear diffuser cover releasably mounted to overlie said diffuser; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover, 4 09/23 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 10/23 wherein the said clear diffuser cover is reeasably secured directly to the diffuser.

SThe peent invento u any type of illuminated emergency exit signs. Two 0types of emergency exit signs are now sold in Australia and New Zealand. The back-lit or box type where the light source (normally fluorescent tube) is contained in between the body and a diffuser or two diffusers; and the blade or edge lit type where the light source which can be a fluorescent tube or a range of LED is positioned a a ede o o O edges of the diffuser blade.

o In one preferred embodiment of the invention, when the exit sign is a back lit or box type, the legend may only be changed by removing the diffuser assembly including to the diffuser, the diffuser cover and the legend from the exit body and then disengaging the diffuser cover upper latches with the use of a hand tool.

It is preferred that the diffuser cover is a clip-on cover.

It is preferred that the legends may only be removed from the whole diffuser assembly when the clear diffuser cover is removed by hand tool from the diffuser.

is In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clear diffuser covers include along a first edge, preferably the lower edge, a plurality of locating positioners which mate with a plurality of associated mating positioners on the diffusers. For example, the clear diffuser covers may include along the first edge a number of locating lugs which mate with corresponding openings on the diffusers. It is preferred that the clear diffuser cover lies in a recessed area of the diffuser so that the diffuser cover lies flush with the diffuser. The openings may therefore be formed in the frame of the recessed area.

In a preferred embodiment on a second edge opposite the first edge, preferably on the upper edge, there is provided a plurality of resilient male members which mate with corresponding female members on the panels. The male member is preferably a finger member. In a preferred embodiment each resilient finger member has a hook-like profile COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-99901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 11/23 8 mnt surface which may form part of the 0 which engages with a corresponding engagement surface which may form part of the Scorresponding female members.

It is preferred that the female members comprise a slot in the upper portion of the Spanel underlying the clear diffuser cover. It is prefered that on the inside of the slot there is provided a surface, preferably a shoulder, for the male member to engage.

SIn use, the locating positioners, typically lugs, mate with the associated mating positioners, typically slots at the lower edge of the diffuser. The top of the clear diffuser o cover is then pressed into position so that the resilient finger members bias as they enter through the corresponding female members. Once the clear diffuser cover is in place the resilient finger members engage with the engagement surface on the inside of the diffuser. It is preferred that the engagement surface is a shoulder onto which a hook like profile of the finger members may engage. The co-operating male and female members act as a latching mechanism. To remove the clear diffuser cover and thereby change the legend, a diffuser is removed from the housing. Access is then gained to the inside of the diffuser and each of the resilient finger members may be biased away from the shoulder and urged through the corresponding opening.

According to a further embodiment of 2005100592 there is provided an internally illuminated emergency exit sign including: a body having a translucent diffuser; a clear diffuser cover releasably mounted to overlie said diffuser; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover, wherein the clear diffuser cover is releasably secured directly to the diffuser, and wherein the assembly comprises the diffuser, the clear diffuser cover and the legend element sandwiched therebetween, can be selectively demounted from the body, and wherein the clear diffuser cover and diffuser have cooperating members which latch the 6 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 Oe/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 12/23 Scover in its position overlying the diffuser, the cooperating members being accessible to release the latch only after the assembly is demounted from the body.

Another kind of sign which is commonly used is a blade or edgelit illuminated O EXIT sign. In the case of blade lights, the clear diffuser covers are preferably only removable with the use of a tool such as a screwdriver. According to a further 00 embodiment of 2005100592 there is provided a blade or edgelit illuminated emergency Sexit sign including: a housing containing lighting components: 0 a translucent diffuser blade having an illuminated panel mounted on said housing; a clear diffluser cover overlying said diffuser blade panel and releasably secured to said diffuser blade panel; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover.

It is preferred that the diffuser cover is a clip-on cover. Any suitable manner of clipping the cover to the diffiser is acceptable. However, it is preferred that the covers are preferably only removable by use of a tool such as a screwdriver.

In the preferred embodiment, the diffuser covers include along a first edge, preferably the lower edge, a plurality of locating positioners which mate with a plurality of associated mating positioners on the blade. It is preferred that the locating positioners be in the form of locating lugs which mate with corresponding openings on the blade.

In a preferred embodiment, on a second edge of the diffuser cover, opposite the first edge, preferably on the upper edge, there is provided a plurality of male members which mate with corresponding female members on the blade.

It is preferred that the male member includes a resilient arm having a profile shaped to engage with the inside of the female member. To attach the diffuser cover the female members are pressed into the corresponding male members. The resilient arm 7 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 09/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 13/23 O biases to allow insertion and once inserted is biased to engage with the inside surface of the female member. The co-operating male and female members act as a latching G mechanism. The male member operates in a similar manner to a telephone jack except 00 O that the resilient arm lies flush with the surface of the blade so that a tool is needed to remove the male member. To remove the diffuser cover a tool such as a screwdriver is 00 used to press the resilient arm away from engagement with the inside surface of the O female member thereby freeing the male member.

Brief Description of the Drawings 0 Possible and preferred features of the present innovation or invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention or innovation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illuminated sign according to the present invention or innovation.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a diffuser cover of the sign of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a diffuser of the sign of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an illuminated sign according to the present invention showing cross-sectional details of the latching mechanism and locating lug.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an illustrated sign according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing cross-sectional details of the latching mechanism and locating lug.

Figure 1 shows an emergency lighting sign of the present invention or innovation.

Shown in Figure 1 is a box light which is a standard type of emergency light such as an exit light. Box light consists of a housing which contains electronic assemblies 8 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 09/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 14/23 o and lighting components Box light is designed to be mounted on a ceiling and so has two illuminated diffusers Each diffuser comprises a diffuser cover which overlies the diffusers and is releasably secured to the diffusers 00 As shown in Figure 2, each of the diffuser covers includes lugs (11) and male members Lugs (11) extend from the edge of the diffuser cover Male members 00 (12) consist of a resilient finger member having a hook like profile.

Figure 3 shows a diffuser Diffuser includes a frame (24) within which diffuser cover is designed to lie. On the inside of frame (24) are slots (22) which are osized to receive lugs Frame (24) also includes female members (23) which comprises an opening in the inside of frame On. the inside of the diffuser shown in Figure 4, is shoulder (31) which is designed to engage male members (12).

A removable legend (not shown) is sandwiched between diffuser cover and diffuser The diffuser cover cannot be easily removed when the box light has been assembled. In order to remove diffuser cover from diffuser it is necessary to remove difftser from housing The male members (23) may then be biased away from shoulders (31) so that the hook like profile no longer engages shoulder (31) and the diffuser cover may be removed from diffuser to change the legend.

In Figure 5, is shown a blade light (31) which consists of housing (32) which contains lighting and electronic assemblies. Blade light (31) has a blade (33) which acts as an illuminated sign- Blade (33) includes legend (35) which in Figure 5 is the word EXIT. Blade (33) also includes diffuser cover (34) which overlies the blade (33) and is releaseably secured to the blade (33).

Each of the diffuser covers 34 includes a frame 36 in which diffuser cover 34 is designed to lie. On the inside of frame 36 are slot% 37 which are sized to receive lugs 41.

Frame 36 also includes female members 38 which comprises an opening on the inside of 9 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by 1P Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 15/23 Sframe 36. On the inside of opening 38 is shoulder 39 which is designed to engage male t members 42. Male member 42 has a resilient arm 43 which biases to allow insertion and removal of male member 42. A removable legend 35 is sandwiched between diffuser blade 33 and diffuser cover 34. The diffuser cover 34 cannot be easily removed without the use of a tool such as a screwdriver. In order to remove diffuser cover 34 from blade S33 it is necessary to insert a screwdriver to press ann 43 away from engagement with Sshoulder 39. The diffuser cover 34 may then be removed from blade 33 to change the Slegend.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications, and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiments of innovation or invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08

Claims (7)

1. An illuminated exit sign including: Sa body having a translucent diffuser; 00 a diffuser cover releasably secured to said diffuser or said body; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover. 00

2. An illuminated exit sign including: 0 a body having a translucent diffuser; a transparent diffuser cover releasably secured to said diffuser or said body by 0 O releasable cooperating formations of the diffuser cover and of the diffuser or body; and a legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and the diffuser cover, wherein the diffuser cover is moved into face to face relationship with the diffuser so as to engage the cooperating releasable formations together and retain the legend element sandwiched between the diffuser and diffuser cover.

3. An illuminated exit sign according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the diffuser is permanently or removably secured to said body and the diffuser cover is separately removably secured to said diffuser or said body.

4. An illuminated sign according to any one of claims I to 3 wherein the assembly comprising at least said clear diffuser cover and legend element can be selectively demounted in a single step for enabling access to the legend element.

5. An illuminated sign according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the diffuser can be removed from said body prior to removal of the cover from said diffuser.

6. An illuminated sign according to any one of claims I to 5 wherein the cooperating releasable formations comprise complementary male and female formations having resilient properties to provide a releasable snap-fit latching operation. 11 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08 08/03/2007 16:05 61-3-98901337 PATENT ATTORNEY SERV PAGE 17/23 0

7. An illuminated sign according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the illuminated sign is a blade or edge lit sign or a backlight or box type sign. 0t 00 00 12 COMS ID No: SBMI-06534273 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:10 Date 2007-03-08