EP0199039A2 - Display device for the reproduction of signs and symbols - Google Patents

Abstract

The display device (1) according to the invention for displaying characters or symbols with light sources in the form of incandescent lamps (16) is characterized in that openings (3) with annular bodies (4) projecting at right angles from the mounting plate (2) in a mounting plate (2). are provided. In this ring body (4) reflectors (5) with tightly placed light distribution caps (6) are inserted on the front. The reflectors (5) have, in their central rear-facing reflector neck (12), plug-in incandescent lamp holders (15) with electrical connection terminals (17) attached to the end. The reflector neck (12) is provided with a longitudinal slot (13) which opens into a transverse slot (14) near the reflector arch. Alternatively, a glass-fiber-reinforced plastic film (20) is firmly placed on the mounting plate (2) and thus simultaneously on the reflectors (5), which allows reflection in reflected light and transparency in transmitted light. The glass fiber reinforced plastic film (20) can be designed or printed in one or more colors.

Description

The invention relates to a display device for displaying characters and symbols with light sources in the form of light bulbs which are arranged close to one another on a substrate, in particular a display device for illuminated inscriptions, illuminated fields, illuminated panels or the like.

Display devices of the type mentioned at the outset are generally known in practice and are used to reproduce characters or symbols, such as letters, numbers, word characters, graphics and the like. Numerous light sources in the form of incandescent lamps are used close together on a common substrate. The substrate is used as a mounting plate and equipped with lamp holder bases, which are arranged in any pre-selectable grid. According to the prior art, such bases can be snapped into the mounting plate. However, they can also be attached by other positive or non-positive means. The light bulb is inserted into the base from the front, while the electrical connections are laid from the rear of the mounting plate. The necessary reflector is usually pushed onto the collar of the base from the front and accommodates a light distribution cap, which can be neutral or colored. For the protective function, a front plexiglass pane is then placed in front of the light sources in one continuous piece in front of the mounting plate equipped in this way.

A disadvantage of this construction, which is regularly used in practice, is that the reflector forms a closed chamber with the light distribution cap placed on the outside, which is quickly heated by the incandescent lamp. Heat dissipation is only possible to a limited extent because, on the one hand, the reflector and the lamp socket base are made of plastic and normally not enough fresh air flows into the space between the mounting plate and the Plexiglas windscreen. In order to achieve heat dissipation to the extent absolutely necessary, a blower is often used, which blows the fresh air into the space between the mounting plate and the windscreen. On the other hand, attempts have also already been made in practice to provide the light distribution cap with a central bore, which ensures the necessary heat dissipation. If the light distribution cap were to be completely omitted, the legibility of the writing would be impaired and the reflectors would also quickly become dirty, which would lead to a reduction in the light output.

The front plexiglass pane also has the disadvantage that a mirror effect is unavoidable from a side perspective and the side legibility is essentially - worse. In addition, this plexiglass disc hampers the bulb replacement.

Starting from the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a display device for displaying characters and / or symbols of the type mentioned at the outset, which avoids the disadvantages described, ensures adequate heat dissipation, allows a quick and technically simple change of incandescent lamp and more is easy to assemble from just a few simple components.

This object is achieved in that openings are provided in the substrate in a preselected grid, into which reflectors are introduced at the front, each of which accommodates plug-in incandescent lamp holders with electrical connection terminals arranged at the end in their central rear-facing reflector neck. In this case, annular bodies projecting at right angles from the substrate can be provided in the openings, into which the reflectors with firmly attached light distribution caps are inserted at the front.

The reflectors can have a radially outwardly bulging collar on the end face, which rests with its inner ring surface on the projecting end face of the ring body and with its outer ring surface receives the windshield of the light distribution cap, the integrally formed cylindrical ring of which is placed over the ring body.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a plastic film is arranged on the front of the reflectors and the substrate, the reflectors optionally being flush with the substrate or projecting slightly beyond the substrate.

In the development of this feature of the invention, the plastic film can be filled with glass fibers or be provided with other active ingredients to increase and improve properties and have a reflection in reflected light, but a transparency of light in transmitted light. This plastic film which can be applied to the substrate and the reflectors can also be provided on the rear side according to the invention he adhesive layer, an adhesive or the like may be provided and thus adhere to the substrate. The plastic film can optionally be provided with an adhesive layer on the back with the exception of the reflector front surfaces. In the sense of this inventive concept, a double-sided adhesive tape can optionally be attached to the back.

Another embodiment of the invention can be seen in the fact that the back of the plastic film can also be printed in color. Here, the back of the plastic film can be designed either in one color, offset in multiple colors, with multi-colored fields or colored in ornaments or the like. Likewise, the front or even the front and the back of the plastic film can optionally be printed in color.

The inventive solution with the aforementioned inventive features offers a number of advantages. In this construction according to the invention, the front plexiglass pane is omitted, which considerably reduces the technical complexity of a display device. In this inventive construction, the bulb replacement is carried out from the rear of the substrate or the mounting plate, so that removal of the light distribution caps and thus reaching into the reflectors is basically avoided.

Further advantages of this invention can now be seen in the fact that on the one hand a relatively simple covering of the substrate with the light sources used can take place and on the other hand an optimal adaptation to the environment can be achieved by suitable choice of color of the film. Thus, with this display device according to the invention, colored slides can be blasted onto the bright plastic film, for example in trade fair use, and at the same time, or also subsequently, illuminated letters or illuminated images can have an increased advertising effect. The film has the advantage that it is either completely coated with an adhesive or that the adhesive is cut out, for example, at the reflector openings. Due to the colored printing on the back of the plastic film, interchangeable film covers may be useful.

When inserting the plastic film into so-called interchangeable frames according to the invention, it is a particular advantage and therefore essential to the invention that the plastic film can be placed on a transparent pane or between two such panes. This can be advantageous if the plastic film does not generally have such a stiffness that it is self-supporting and can therefore be replaced without an interchangeable frame.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the reflector with the reflector neck can be formed from a thermally conductive material. In a preferred embodiment, this is a metal. It is also possible to provide the reflector together with the reflector neck made of a plastic with a conductive layer.

The light distributor cap can be non-positively and / or positively connected to the reflector and / or the ring body.

The reflector itself can be essentially spherical-curved or elliptical-curved.

Starting from the rear end, the reflector neck can have a longitudinal slot which opens into a transverse slot arranged near the reflector. This transverse slot can be arranged and have such a shape that it ejects a light point to the rear when the incandescent lamps are switched on. A similar effect is achieved if the reflector and / or the reflector neck are formed from a transparent material in accordance with the invention.

As stated above, the reflector is formed from a thermally conductive material, such as a metal, and has essentially three important functions. With its outer largest diameter and the small curved arch, this reflector enables insertion from the front into the opening of the substrate up to the stop. Furthermore, the reflectors are curved according to the laws of optics, so that a uniform light distribution can occur. The reflector neck, which runs centrally to the rear part, has a longitudinal slot which opens into a transverse slot, which means that it is possible to insert the bulb base or bulb holder from the rear with a clamping effect. The light bulb base is only pushed into the reflector neck and remains stuck due to the clamping effect caused by the slots. Due to the omission of the front plexiglass pane, there is also no reflection, which would significantly impair the legibility of the illuminated letters. This is a very important advantage of the plastic film applied over the reflectors. The light bulb can be changed without problems and without removing the front plexiglass pane and is much easier - faster than was possible with state-of-the-art designs.

The substrate or the mounting plate, which can be made of aluminum in a known manner, receives bores in a preselected grid, into which an annular body is pressed in the press fit can be. According to the inventive features, this ring body can also be molded in one piece from the mounting plate. It is so protruding to the front to the outside that it can accommodate the light distribution cap and the reflectors. The metallic reflectors dissipate the heat better, which increases the lifespan of the incandescent lamps. In connection with an alternating current control and the associated increase in the service life, the technically simple and less complex light fields with incandescent lamps can be used to an increased extent.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the light distributor cap can be non-positively or positively connected to the reflector and / or the ring body. This can be done according to the inventive concept by gluing. The ring body can also be formed in one piece with the reflector.

Further advantageous features can be seen from the following description of the drawing.

• Fig. 1 eine Anzeigevorrichtung mit einer Lichtquelle in Form einer Glühlampe in der Seitenansicht
• Fig. 2 die Draufsicht auf eine Anzeigevorrichtung
• Fig. 3 einen Schnitt durch den in die Montageplatte eingesetzten Reflektor
• Fig. 4 eine Anzeigevorrichtung in perspektivischer Ansicht und teilweise im Schnitt
• Fig. 5 einen Schnitt durch die in die Montageplatte eingesetzten Reflektoren
• Fig. 6 einen Ausschnitt des Anschlusses eines Reflektors an die Kunststoffolie im Schnitt

Examples of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

• Fig. 1 shows a display device with a light source in the form of an incandescent lamp in a side view
• Fig. 2 is a plan view of a display device
• Fig. 3 shows a section through the reflector used in the mounting plate
• Fig. 4 is a display device in a perspective view and partially in section
• Fig. 5 shows a section through the reflectors used in the mounting plate
• Fig. 6 shows a section of the connection of a reflector to the plastic film in section

The display device 1 for displaying symbols or characters with light sources in the form of incandescent lamps essentially consists of a substrate or a mounting plate 2 with openings 3 arranged in a preselected grid. An annular body 4 is inserted inside the openings, which is flush with the mounting plate 2 protrudes at right angles to the front. The reflector 5 is inserted into the ring body 4 of the mounting plate 2 and covered with a light distribution cap 6. The spherical or elliptically curved reflector 5 has at the front a collar 7 which is curved outward at right angles and which rests with its inner ring surface 8 on the end face of the ring body 4. The light distribution cap 6 covers the reflector with its front pane 10 and has a one-piece molded cylindrical ring 11 which is fitted on the outside over the ring body 4. The light distributor cap 6 is non-positively connected to the reflector 5 or the ring body 4, for example by gluing.

The reflector 5 has a central rear-facing reflector neck 12, which is formed together with the reflector from a thermally conductive material, for example metal, and has a longitudinal slot 13 from the rear end, which opens into a transverse slot 14 near the reflector arch. This slot arrangement gives the reflector neck 12 a clamping effect for the bulb holder 15 inserted centrally from the rear end. In the bulb holder, the bulb 16 is inserted at the front by means of a bayonet lock or screw connection, while the electrical connection terminals 17 are provided at the rear end.

The construction described above now allows a simple change of the light bulb by pulling the light bulb holder 15 together with the used light bulb 16 out of the reflector neck, changing the light bulb from the holder and then pushing the completed light bulb holder backwards into the reflector neck. In the case of mounting plates mounted directly on walls, a device which is customary per se is provided for the purpose of changing the incandescent lamp and which at least allows the mounting plate to be tilted slightly up to an end stop. This allows reaching behind the mounting plate 2 and changing the bulbs 16. The light distribution cap made of a neutral or colored material is fixed and essentially dustproof and waterproof placed on the reflectors 5 on the front. It allows good legibility even from a side angle and, by preventing the ingress of dust and water, ensures a long service life for the inner reflector surfaces and the light bulbs.

In order to be able to detect a failure of an incandescent lamp 16 also from the back of the substrate 2, for example during repair or service work, it is possible to form the reflector 5 and / or the reflector neck 12 from transparent material. As a result, a glow of the light bulbs 16 is visually clearly visible from the outside without the light effect being impaired to the front.

On the other hand, the transverse slot 14 in the reflector neck 12 can be so close to the reflector curvature or protrude slightly into it that the glow of the light bulbs 16 can also be seen from the outside.

As an alternative to this option and also in addition to this, a groove or groove 19 can be incorporated on the inner circumferential surface of the reflector neck 12 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the reflector neck, which on the one hand enables easy recognition of a bulb failure and on the other hand offers the possibility of air exchange from the inside of the reflector 5.

In order both to ensure good heat dissipation from the reflectors 5 and at the same time to offer cheap, technically simple production processes, the reflector 5 can also be formed together with the reflector neck 12 from a plastic with a thermally conductive coating. The thermally conductive material or the thermally conductive coating advantageously improves the effect of blowing fresh air in by a blower or extracting the heated air around the reflector 5.

On the other hand, the possibility with the features according to patent claim 1 offers to manufacture the ring body 4 in one piece with the reflector 5, whereby further production possibilities can be made available if necessary.

The display device 1 for reproducing characters, symbols or the like according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 has the same basic structure as the device 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3. In this respect, the same reference numbers also denote the same components.

A reflector 5 is inserted directly into the openings 3 from the front of the mounting plate 2. The reflectors 5 lie with their largest outer diameter on the inner walls of the openings 3, where they are glued, for example. According to the representation according to FIG. 6, the reflector 5 projects only slightly beyond the mounting plate 2 with its front side and rests with the collar 7 on the outside of the mounting plate 2 through its bearing surface 8.

The entire mounting plate including the reflectors 5 is covered on the outside with a plastic film 20. As shown in FIG. 4, this plastic film 20 can rest on longitudinal and transverse webs 23 and be glued there. The plastic film 20 can of course also be placed and fastened completely flat on the mounting plate and the reflectors 5 that are flush with the front of the mounting plate in the sense of the invention. The back 21 of the plastic film 20 according to the invention either has a continuous adhesive or adhesive layer, or it is provided with an adhesive or adhesive layer and has 5 recesses of this adhesive and adhesive layer in the area of the adjacent reflectors. There are even more options if a double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the back of the film instead of the adhesive layer. Furthermore, it is possible to use this glass-fiber-reinforced plastic film 20 as a colored film or else to print its back 21 in color. Any color imprints are possible here. For example, the entire back can be provided with a uniform color. The back of the glass fiber reinforced plastic film 20 can, however, also be divided into fields with different colors; colors that run into one another and also colored ornaments can be printed on. The color design of the plastic film 20 is based in each case on the special advertising requirements.

The plastic film 20 placed on the outside provides a dustproof and waterproof cover over the reflectors 5. Furthermore, this glass fiber reinforced plastic film 20 allows good legibility even from a side angle and - by preventing the ingress of dust and water - creates a relatively long service life for the interior Reflector surfaces or light bulbs.

Just like the back 21, the front 22 of the plastic film 20 could optionally also be printed in color. A further enhancement of the color impression and also a greater contrast of colored prints are also conceivable if both the front side 22 and the back side 21 of the plastic film 20 are printed in one or more colors in a uniform manner or in contrast to one another.

Furthermore, one of the inventive features is that the plastic film 20 can be used in so-called removable frames made of wood, plastic or metal with sufficient tension, these removable frames can be detachably connected to the substrate or the mounting plate 2 by screwing or other known means.

Claims (17)

1. Display device for reproducing signs, symbols or the like, with light sources in the form of light bulbs which are arranged close to one another on a substrate, in particular display device for illuminated inscriptions, illuminated fields, illuminated panels or the like, characterized,
that openings (3) are provided in the substrate (2) in a pre-selected grid, into which reflectors (5) are introduced at the front, the respective bulb holders (15) which can be inserted in their central rear-facing reflector neck (15) with electrical connection terminals () 17) record. 2. Display device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that in the openings (3) at right angles from the substrate (2) projecting ring body (4) are provided, in the front of the reflectors (5) are inserted with fixed light diffuser caps (6). 3. Display device according to claims 1 and 2,
characterized,
that the reflectors (5) have a radially outwardly curved collar (7) on the end face, which rests with its inner ring surface (8) on the projecting end face (9) of the ring body (4) and with its outer ring surface (18) the windshield (10 ) of the light distributor cap (6), whose integrally molded cylindrical ring (11) is placed over the ring body (4). 4. Display device according to claims 1 and / or 2,
characterized,
that a plastic film (20) is arranged on the front via the reflectors (5) and the substrate (2), the reflectors (5) optionally being flush with the substrate (2) or projecting slightly beyond the substrate (2). 5. Display device according to claims 1 and 4,
characterized in that the plastic film (20) is filled with glass fibers or is provided with other active substances and has a reflection in incident light, but in contrast a transparency of the light in transmitted light. 6. Display device according to claims 1, 4 and 5,
characterized,
that the plastic film (20) is optionally provided on the back with an adhesive layer, an adhesive or the like, which is optionally interrupted in the region of the reflector front surfaces, or is equipped with a double-sided adhesive tape on the adhesive surfaces and adheres to the substrate (2). 7. Display device according to claims 1 and 4 to 6,
characterized,
that either the back (21) or the front (22) or the back (21) and the front (22) of the plastic film (20) is printed in color, is multi-colored, is equipped with multi-colored fields or colored in omaments. 8. Display device according to one or more of the preceding claims;
characterized,
that the plastic film (20) is inserted between two panes or on a transparent pane in removable frames and is releasably attached to the substrate or the mounting plate (2). 9. Display device according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the reflector (5) with the reflector neck (12) is formed from a thermally conductive material, in particular metal. 10. Display device according to claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that the light distribution cap (6) with the reflector - (5) and / or the ring body (4) is non-positively or positively connected. 11. Display device according to claims 1 to 3 and 9,
characterized,
that the reflector neck (12) one from the rear End extending longitudinal slot (13) which opens into a transverse slot (14) arranged near the reflector (5). 12. Display device according to claims 1 to 3 and 10 and 11,
characterized,
that the reflector (5) is essentially spherical-curved or elliptical-curved. 13. Display device according to claims 1 to 3 and 10,
characterized,
that the ring body (4) is formed in one piece from the substrate (2). 14. Display device according to claims 1 to 3 and 10,
characterized,
that the ring body (4) is non-positively inserted in the openings (3) of the substrate (2). 15. Display device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the reflector (5) and / or the reflector neck (12) are formed from a transparent material. 16. Display device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the ring body (4) with the reflector (5) is integrally formed. 17. Display device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the reflector (5) is connected to the substrate (2) flush on the front or almost flush by gluing, flanging, welding, riveting or the like.

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