DE8708573U1 - Facility for the provision of information - Google Patents

Description

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Monk Plastics Technology GmbH
Frankfurter Strasse 32
6123 Bad Koenig

Description
Facility for the provision of information

The innovation relates to a device for communicating information such as words and/or numbers with luminous elements that form the information, which are made of light-collecting material and are self-luminous, and where the elements are arranged in a positionally movable and/or interchangeable manner.

Such devices are used for advertising purposes. The elements that are excited to fluoresce can be arranged in a grid to convey the desired information, v/ There are translucent spaces between the elements,

which results in the disadvantage of a lack of contrast^ Furthermore, the elements largely lose their luminous effect in strong secondary light such as daylight. There are also elements that are designed as grid-shaped light sources such as lamps or light-emitting diodes, which light up to the desired extent via an electrical circuit in order to convey information. Such devices are costly and maintenance-intensive, since, in particular, when using normal lamps, these have to be replaced after a certain number of operating hours.

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Patent Office · European Patent Attorneys

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basically specialist personnel is required* It must be repeatedly determined that corresponding facilities do not convey the intended information to the desired extent * In addition, a considerable energy consumption is to be observed _so that

If necessary, additional cooling devices are required to dissipate the heat. When using fluorescent lamps, high-voltage chokes are required which have been specially shielded to exclude the risk of electrical accidents.

The aim of this innovation is to design a device of the type mentioned above in such a way that high-contrast information such as words and/or numbers can be provided using simple means and that good perception of the information is guaranteed even in the event of background light.

The task is solved in accordance with the innovation by arranging the elements on or in a light-absorbing carrier plate. The elements made of light-collecting material can be exposed to either natural light and/or the radiation of an artificial light source such as black light. The elements made of light-collecting material are made of plastic such as acrylic glass with embedded fluorescent dye. Corresponding elements are sufficiently well known and have light-transforming properties, i.e. visible and non-visible light is transformed into visible light of a certain color depending on the fluorescent dye.

The elements were inserted into the carrier plate to the desired extent in order to allow the intended information to appear from the front. Since the carrier plate is made of light-absorbing material, it can therefore be painted black, providing increased contrast to the elements made of light-collecting material.

STFiASSE & STOFFRAIN

Patent Attorneys - European Patent Attorneys

In order for the free ends of the elements that pass through the carrier plate to end at a uniform distance from the carrier plate, according to a further embodiment of the innovation, the carrier plate is held by a frame, the front face of which is preferably spaced apart from the carrier plate. The face is of course translucent and can be made of colorless plastic, for example. The free ends of the elements then pass through the carrier plate to a circumference until they hit the inside of the face. The spacing between the face and the carrier plate also results in the j

\ Advantage that even when looking at the facility from the |

The information is clearly visible from this side.'

To ensure that the recesses not penetrated by elements do not cause interference, these can also be closed with covers made of light-absorbing material. The ;

Covers made from elements made of wood, for example!

whose cross-sections correspond to the light-collecting j

Material corresponds. Of course, other types of cover are also possible. Preferably, the carrier plate is covered on the back by a flexible plate which has partially punched-out areas associated with the recesses. In particular, the recess has a circular shape and the associated area of the plate is preferably punched out 80% of the circumference of the circular shape. Preferably, the plate is made of rubber, preferably soot-free rubber and has para rubber quality.

The frame, which is spaced apart from the carrier plate, has a U-shape in cross-section, whereby the upper leg can be designed to be UV-permeable if the elements providing the information are to be stimulated to glow by natural light. If

a cold light source is used, can be dee |

Support plate starting the side table legs with a |

iidhtreflecting material such as aluminum foil I

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so that the light from the artificial light source is radiated towards the inner free ends of the elements.

Preferably, the carrier plate itself is the front side of another U-shaped inner frame, the side parts of which run parallel to the side legs and rest on the ^bases . This gives the entire device a high level of stability without the need for complex structural measures. Rather, all that is required is that two U-profiles are pushed into one another, with the front surfaces being spaced apart from one another, the inner of which forms the carrier plate for the elements.

The elements themselves are preferably rod-shaped, but can also have other geometries, with the length of each element being at least twice its diameter. This enables optimal light conversion.

According to another embodiment of the innovation that is worth highlighting, the elements are not placed in recesses in the carrier plate, but are preferably attached to it magnetically. For this purpose, the carrier plate is flat and consists, for example, of sheet metal or another material to which a magnetic material adheres. The areas of the elements made of light-collecting materials facing the carrier plate therefore have a layer of permanently magnetic material, which ensures that they adhere to the carrier plate in the desired positions. This makes it possible to easily arrange the desired information on the carrier plate, which can be quickly changed if necessary! In order for the fluorinated elements to be excited to emit radiation, there is preferably a UV radiation lamp in front of the front of the carrier plate, i.e. the surface to which the elements are attached.

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STREET & FABRIC RAIN

Patent Attorneys · European Patent Attorneys

emitted light source, which is not immediately visible due to the edges of a floor element such as a floor panel. A corresponding construction is extremely simple and therefore inexpensive to produce, without the variety of information to be conveyed or its richness in contrast having to be compromised.

Further details, advantages and features of the innovation emerge not only from the claims, the features to be derived from them - individually and/or in combination - but also from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a front view of the device according to Fig. 1, but in detail and

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the innovation.

In Fig. 1 and 2, a cross-section and a partial front view of a device (10) are shown, which are intended to convey light information in the form of words and/or numbers in a simple manner. The device (10) consists of an outer frame (12) in the form of a U-profile, which is made up of the front side (14) and the side legs (16) and (18). The U-profile (12) can be closed at the back by a rear wall (20). A carrier plate (22) runs at a distance from the front side (14), from which side parts (24) and (26) extend, which run parallel to the side legs (16) and (18) and rest against them. In other words, the carrier plate forms

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(22) with the side parts (24) and (26) also form a U-profile, which is pushed into the outer U-profile (12). The carrier plate (22) is penetrated by elements made of light-collecting material. Of these, 5 elements are shown as examples in Fig. 1, which are provided with the reference numerals (28), (30), (32), (34) and (36), and which are also indicated with the corresponding reference numerals in Fig. 2. The elements (28) to (36) are preferably cylindrical rods made of plastic such as acrylic glass, in which fluorescent dyes are embedded. Corresponding light-collecting elements (22) are sufficiently well known and have light-transforming

Properties, i.e. invisible and visible light is transformed into corresponding light in the fluorescent dye. This provides optimal light utilization without having to assign a separate light source to each element (28) to (36). Rather, it is sufficient if either natural light or radiation from an artificial light source (38) falls on the outer surface of the elements (28) to (36), which is shown in Fig. 1 and is a black light that is operated with an output of 18 watts, for example.

The elements (28) to (36) penetrate the carrier plate (22) in ' recesses, which in the case of cylindrical elements are holes

and which are provided with the reference numerals (40) and (43) in Fig. 1 by way of example.

A gap is provided between the carrier plate (22) and the inner surface of the front side (14) so that the free ends (42), (44), (46), (48) and (50) of the elements (28) to (36) protrude above the outer surface of the carrier plate (22). This makes it possible for the information conveyed by the elements (28) to (36) to be clearly understood even when viewed from the side.

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In order to increase the contrast between the carrier plate (22) and the elements (28) and (36) _, the outer surface (52) is provided with light-absorbing material and can therefore be painted black. In order to clearly perceive the light emitted by the elements (28) to (36), the front side (14) preferably consists of a colorless plastic disc such as acrylic glass, whereby the distance between the carrier plate (22) and the front surface (14) can be 5 mm. In order to easily insert the elements (28) and (36) into the holes (40) and (42), a further holding device (54) is provided which is UV-permeable and which also consists of a U-profile.

and extends from the rear of the carrier plate (22). The holding device (54) has holes (56) and (58) that are aligned with those of the carrier plate (22), i.e. with the holes (43) and (40).

If the elements (28) to (36) are to be exposed to natural light, the upper cover formed by the upper side leg (16) of the frame (12) and the side part (24) extending from the carrier plate (22) is translucent, preferably UV-permeable. In this case, suitable materials include plastic such as acrylic glass. If the device (10) is operated with the fifth artificial light source (38), the inner surfaces of the frame (12) or the carrier plate (22) with the side parts (24) and (26) extending from it can be lined with a light-reflecting material such as aluminum foil in order to ensure optimal light emission onto the inner ends of the elements (28) and (36).

Those holes provided in the carrier plate (22) which are not penetrated by elements made of the light-collecting material are covered. This can be done, for example, by blind elements, i.e. elements whose geometry corresponds to that of the elements (28) and (36), but are made of light-absorbing material.

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sorbent material*, e.g. black painted wood. Of course there are also other options to cover the unused holes.

In addition to the possibility of inserting so-called blind flanges into the holes in which no elements (28), (30), (32), (34), (36) are arranged, according to a particularly noteworthy design there is the possibility of covering the back (39) of the carrier plate (22) with a flexible plate element (41). The plate element (41), which is preferably made of rubber, has areas (45) and (47) in the area of the holes (40) (43) that can be lifted off by punching out, which expose the holes (40) and (43) when elements (28), (30), (32), (34), (36) are inserted. In other words, the punched out areas (45) and (47) lie on the outer surface of the elements (28), (30), (32), (34), (36).

In order to prevent the radiation emitted by the light source (38) from escaping through the recesses in which no elements (28), (30), (32), (34), (36) are arranged, the punched-out areas of the plate element (41), which preferably consists of soot-free rubber, assigned to the recesses are punched out to 80 % of the circumference corresponding to the recesses (40), (43). As a result, the punched-out areas have a high inherent rigidity, which ensures that the assigned recesses (40), (43) are completely covered.

Of course, there is also the possibility to

Plate element (41) is to be arranged on the front side of the carrier plate (22), provided that the distance to the front side (14) of the frame (12) is sufficiently large.

The following is an example of the dimensions of a device (10) in accordance with the innovation, by means of which information can be conveyed very effectively in a simple way.

STREET & FABRIC=RAIN

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so that the device (10) can also be referred to as an information system. It is used not only for advertising purposes, but also as an information sign and the like.

The outer frame (12) preferably consists of a U-profile with a length of 650 mm and a thickness of 3 mm . Colourless acrylic glass is suitable as a material. The depth of the side legs (16) and (18) is 150 mm. The height of the front side (U) is 205 mm. An inner frame made of the carrier plate (22) and the side parts (24) and

(26) is used, which can also be made of acrylic glass with a thickness of 3 mm, although a black color is preferred. The depth of the side parts (24) and (26) is U5 mm, the height of the support plate (22) 195 mm. The backs of the U-profiles can be closed with a cover (20).

Inside the U-profiles there is an artificial light source (38) in the form of a black light. This can be, for example, a fluorescent tube, which is known under the name

"TLG-Philipps" is known.

On the inside of the carrier plate (22) there is a third U-profile as a holding device (54), the opening of which runs opposite to that of the outer U-profiles. The holding device (54) can be made of colorless acrylic glass and is preferably glued to the inside surface of the carrier plate (22). The holding device (54) serves to guide the elements (28) to (36) to be inserted in the form of round rods. The holding device (54) can have a total height of 120 mm with a leg length of 35 mm.

Holes can now be made in the carrier plate (22) and consequently also in the holding device (54) according to the information density to be transmitted. For example,

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For the mentioned length of the outer U-profile (12) of 650 mm, 427 holes with a diameter of 10 mm must be provided. The light-collecting and then self-illuminating elements (28) and (36) are then inserted into these holes.

The device according to the invention provides an information system in a simple manner which is easy to handle, energy-efficient and can be easily aligned to the information to be transmitted. The individual elements (28) to (36) can be provided with different fluorescent dyes (^) so that the information itself can be

shine in different colors.

Furthermore, it should be pointed out that, of course,

several modern facilities in addition to and/or

can be arranged one above the other to form an information line or board.

In Fig. 3, a further embodiment of a device for communicating information according to the invention is shown, which has a carrier plate (62) with a base plate (64) extending from it and a cover (66) angled towards the carrier plate (62), behind

\J which uses an artificial light source, such as a black light

is arranged. The carrier plate, which consists of one piece and has a base area (64) and cover (66), can be made of sheet metal or another material to which a magnet can adhere. Furthermore, at least the front surface of the carrier plate (62) is covered with a light-absorbing material, and can therefore be painted black. In order to convey information on the carrier plate (62), elements (70), (72) which are preferably made of plastic such as acrylic glass and in which fluorescent dyes are embedded are provided with a layer (74), (76) made of a permanently magnetic material. This makes it possible for the elements (70) and (72) to be positioned in desired positions on the

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Carrier plate (62). It is not necessary for the elements (70) and (72) to be of the same design and, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2, to have a rod shape. Rather, the elements (70) and (72) can have any desired shape. In order for adhesion to the carrier plate (62) to be possible, at least the areas of the elements (70), (72) facing it must be provided with magnetic material in some areas.

An advantage of the device (60) according to Fig. 3 compared to the device (10) is that a stepless

The individual elements (70) and (72) can be changed relative to the carrier plate (62). In contrast, the device (10) only allows for a discrete change in the arrangement of the elements.

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Claims (1)

STREET & FABRIC RAIN Patent Attorneys ■ European Patent Attorneys Monk Plastics Technology GmbH
Frankfurter Strasse 32
Bad König Protection claims
Facility for the provision of information 1. Device for conveying information such as words and/or numbers with luminous elements forming the information, which are made of light-collecting material and are self-luminous, and wherein the elements are arranged in a positionally movable and/or interchangeable manner, characterized, that the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 70, 72) on or in a light-absorbing carrier plate (62). 2. Device according to claim 1, /i characterized by that the carrier plate (22) has a plurality of coverable recesses (40, 43) for introducing the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36). 3· Device according to claim 2, characterized,
that the carrier plate (22) is preferably covered on the rear side by a flexible plate (41) which has partially punched-out areas (45> 47) associated with the recesses. STREET & FABRIC RAIN Patent Attorneys - European Patent Attorneys 4. Device according to claim 3,
characterized in that the recess (40, 43) has a circular shape and that the associated region (45, 47) is preferably punched out 80% of the circumference of the circular shape. 5· Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate (41) is made of rubber, preferably non-toxic rubber and has para-rubber quality- 6. Device according to claim 2,
characterized in that blind flanges are introduced into the recesses (40, 43) not having the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36). 7. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the carrier plate (22) is spaced from a translucent end face (14) of an outer frame (12). 8. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) penetrate the recesses (40, 43) with their front ends projecting beyond the front surface of the carrier plate (22) and preferably resting on the inner surface (49) of the end face (14). 9· Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the frame (12) has a U-shape in cross-section. BREED & FREQUENCY ,' ^? ,J* Patent Attorneys ■ European Patent Attorneys 10· Facility according to at least claim Si» characterized in that, to form a U-shape, side parts (24, 26) extend from the carrier plate (22) which run parallel to the side legs (16, 18) of the frame (12) and preferably rest on them* i Device according to claim 7, characterized, that the back of the frame (12) is closed. 12» Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) are rod-shaped, the length of each element preferably being at least twice its diameter. 13- Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper side leg (16) of the frame (12) and the upper side part (24) consist of UV-permeable material. *·· 14. Facility according to at least claim l _v characterized in that a holding device (54) for the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36) with recesses runs at a distance from the carrier plate (22) and is arranged flush with those of the carrier plate (22). 15· Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the holding device (54) has a U-shape and extends from the back of the carrier plate (22)* · · I Ht it « ST PtASse S STpFFREQEfvi . ', ,|* Patent Attorneys ^for European Patent Attorneys 16* Direction according to claim 1, characterized in that the elements (70, 72) are magnetically attached to the support plate (62). 17* Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the elements (7Ö, 721) are exposed to radiation which excites the fluorescent light from the front side of the carrier plate (62). 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the elements (70, 72) are supported by a support plate (62) arranged directly invisible light source (68) are exposed to the radiation. l§j Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the elements (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 70, 72) are exposed to natural light and/or radiation from an artificial light source (38, 68) such as black light.