AU4752602A - Illuminated display numbers - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: STARLIGHT DIE SINKING PTY. LTD.

Actual Inventor(s): KEN ROBERT PAUS Address for Service: SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 Invention Title: ILLUMINATED DISPLAY NUMBERS Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PR5677 Filed: 14 th June, 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1 2002-06-12.A:\391 starlight file.wpd, I la- TITLE: ILLUMINATED DISPLAY NUMBERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of this invention provides illuminated identification displays for buildings.

Copyright. All rights reserved.

~C)Sandercock Cowie 200O2-06-I 2,A:\39Dstarlightcrompltc.wpd, I -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The location of addresses after dark is a problem. Couriers and goods delivery staff find the location of customers premises a constant problem at night. In an ageing population visits by ambulance and other medical personnel may be crucial and these too lose time in searching for addresses.

Many premises including domestic dwellings have an eaves mounted socket for providing power to an external lamp, the purpose of which is to light the exterior of the building and sometimes the occupants mount a house number where it will be lit by the lamp. An oblique illumination casts shadows and the eye does not always read what it sees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides an identification display for a building wherein the display is supportable by an electric light fitting and has a window for the reception of characters which in use are illuminated by the electric light.

Preferably the display is a shell which has an aperture in the upper part which allows the fitting to clamp the shell.

The shell may be made from a single moulding or two connectable halves, but I prefer to make the shell from a base, a lid and walls which define between them the window.

If the shell is opaque an aperture or further window may be provided so that in use the bulb will illuminate the surroundings in addition to the characters.

The characters, usually numerals, may be inset into the numeral panel. It is convenient to have one numeral per panel or that the panels lie side by side enabling combinations to be supplied. Preferably the panels are fixed in the shell.

When the shell is made of a base with a lid and connecting walls, the base and lid may Copyright. All rights reserved.

0 Sandercock Cowie 2002-06-12,A:390starlight.complete.wpd,2 -3have grooved edges which receive the inserted opposite edges of the panels while permitting closure, once the panels are in place, by adhesion, for example soldering, welding or glueing. The panels may be opaque and the characters may be translucent.

The shell may be triangular in plan with a central, downwardly directed, light-shedding aperture. Normally the display will be an eaves mounted installation.

Certain embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective; Figure 2 is an exploded section through the base lid and window; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner panel; and Figure 4 is a numeral and panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, a moulded equilateral triangular lid 2 has a central well 4 with a central circular aperture 6 dimensioned to fit the lamp socket of a standard 240 volt light bulb fitting. The central aperture 6 is surrounded by ventilation apertures 8.

Corresponding triangular shaped base 10 has a concentric aperture 12 of larger diameter in order to shed light downwardly.

The perimeter of both base and lid have a series of four integral tabs 14 set back from the edge in order to create an intermittent groovel6. The comer tabs receive three corner pillars 18 with shoulders 20 at their ends and tenons 22 which fit the corner grooves. The corner pillars define the separation of the lid and base. Two wall panels 24 occupy two vertical sides of the display. The third side is occupied by two opaque panels 26, the top Copyright. All rights reserved.

SSandercock Cowie 2002-06-12.A:\390starlightcomplete.wpd,3 -4and bottom edges of which project into the groove on the lids and base. Each opaque panel has a numeral cut out into which a moulded translucent numeral 28 is glued using a solvent type of glue available as WELDON T M The customer identifies his required number and the appropriate panel numerals are push fitted into the mouldings to form the composite shells. The shell is then assembled using self topping screws. The display is then packaged and sent to the customer who installs the display like a lamp shade in the eaves lamp socket. The numbers are rotated to face visitors to the building. The numeral panels are made of high impact styrene. The shell is made of methyl methacrylate. The unit remains removable.

The display may be supplied as a kit consisting of the lid, base and panels with fixing screws. The translucent numerals are supplied separately already glued to the black panels in blister packs. The customer buys appropriate numerals, loads them with the display and screws the display together.

Copyright. All rights reserved.

Sandercock Cowie 2002-06-12,A:\390starlight.compicte.wpd.4

Claims (11)

1. Identification display for a building, wherein the display is supportable by an electric light fitting and has a window for the display of indicia which in use are illuminated by the electric light.

2. Identification display as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the display is a shell which has an aperture in the upper part allowing the fitting to clamp the shell.

3. Identification display as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the shell has a base, a lid and a peripheral wall which define between them a window.

4. Identification display as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the window is occupied by one or more panels which bear the indicia.

Identification display as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the panel occupies a sector of the shell, the remaining peripheral wall being for light transmission.

6. Identification display as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the panel is opaque and has a cut out in which a light transmitting numeral or character is fixed.

7. Identification display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the panel is light transmitting and the numeral or character is opaque.

8. Identification display precursor of the identification display claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lid and base and the peripheral wall have interfitting tongues and grooves so that the shell is a push fit in assembly with a desired indicia panel ready for the parts to be secured together.

9. Identification display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the base has a downwardly directed, light shedding aperture. Copyright.

All rights reserved. (0 Sandercock Cowie 2002-0-1 2.A.\A90starIight.complece.wpd, A kit of parts for an identification display suitable for building identification consisting of pieces of a light transmitting shell which is supportable by an electric light fitting and fasteners to assemble the shell pieces.

11. Identification display substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 12 t h day of June, 2002. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR STARLIGHT DIE SINKING PTY. LTD. Copyright. All rights reserved. 0 Sandercock Cowie 2002-06-12,A:\390starlighLcomplete.wpd,6