Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/06—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
  • G09F13/0463—Portable signs, boards or panels

Definitions

• This invention relates to an illu inatable sign and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a sign element, a sign comprising a plurality of sign elements and a method of constructing a sign.
• illuminatable signs in which a plurality of alphanumeric characters are arranged to be illuminated.
• a simple illuminatable sign may comprise a display panel upon which alphanumeric characters are painted and a series of spotlights arranged to direct light at the characters.
• a more complex known illuminatable sign comprises a neon rube which is arranged to define a plurality of alphanumeric characters. When power is supplied to the tube, the characters are illuminated with a pink colour, characteristic of the neon gas emission spectrum.
• Both of the signs described above are powered using mains electricity and, accordingly, installation of the signs can be both a complex and relatively time-consuming task.
• a sign element comprising character definin ⁇ means arranged to define a character, an integral illumination means for illuminating a character and an integral power supply means for supplying power to the illumination means.
• Said character defining means is preferably arranged to define an alphanumeric character.
• Said character defining means is preferably arranged to define a single character.
• Said character defining means is preferably arranged to define a character against a background.
• Said character defining means is preferably arranged to define a character by the character and background being visually contrasting when the illumination means is in use.
• the background itself may be illuminated in use, with the character being relatively unilluminated. In a preferred embodiment, however, the character is illuminated in use and the background is relatively unilluminated.
• Said integral illumination means preferably comprises a multiplicity of illumination elements.
• Said illumination elements are preferably arranged to define the character defined by said character defining means.
• Said illumination elements are preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs) .
• Said integral illumination means is preferably arranged inwardly of the character defining means.
• Said integral power supply means preferably comprises a battery.
• Said battery is preferably re-chargeable.
• Re ⁇ charging means is preferably provided for re-charging the battery.
• Said re-charging means preferably includes a solar panel arranged to convert light to electricity for charging the battery.
• Sensing means is preferably provided for sensing the ambient light level. Said sensing means is preferably arranged to allow power to be supplied to the illumination means when the ambient light level falls below a predetermined level. A manually operable switch means may also be provided for arming the sign element.
• a control means for example, a printed circuit board is preferably provided and said illumination means and/or said power supply means and/or said sensing means and/or said manually operable switch means are in electrical contact therewith.
• Said sign element is preferably a self-contained unit.
• Said element preferably comprises a casing.
• Said casing is preferably a watertight unit.
• Said integral illumination means and said power supply means are preferably arranged within the casing.
• An outer wall of the casing is preferably defined, at least in part, by said character defining means.
• the character defining means comprises a first panel as described above, said first panel is preferably a component of said outer wall.
• the character defining means comprises first and second panels secured to one another, this arrangement may be a component of said outer wall.
• said first panel or the arrangement comprising secured together first and second panels includes co-operation means for co-operating with other parts of the casing.
• Said co-operation means may comprise a stepped arrangement.
• Said sign element preferably includes securement means for securing the element to a surface.
• Said securement means is preferably associated with a lower surface of the element.
• Said securement means is preferably arranged to be wholly concealed when the element is secured to a surface.
• Said securement means preferably comprises an adhesive means, for example in the form of a double-sided adhesive material such as adhesive tape.
• the invention extends to a sign comprising a plurality of sign element of the type described above.
• Said sign elements of said sign are preferably juxtaposed.
• the invention further extends to a method of constructing a sign comprising securing a sign element which comprises character defining means, an integral illumination means and an integral power supply means, to a surface.
• Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in cross- section of a sign element
• Figure 2 is a cross-section along line II-II of Figure 1.
• the sign element 2 comprises a rectangular casing 4 having a stepped peripheral rim 6.
• a printed circuit board 10 is provided within the casing and is seated in a recess (not shown) defined in the casing.
• the printed circuit board is arranged to be powered by the battery.
• An array 12 of light emitting diodes is provided above the printed circuit board.
• the array 12 comprises a multiplicity of LEDs arranged to define an alphanumeric character. For example, in the element 2 shown in the figures, the LEDs are arranged to define the letter "A". The LEDs are arranged to direct light upwardly.
• the casin ⁇ 4 is closed by means of an upper member 14.
• the member 14 comprises a smoked Perspex (Trade Mark) panel 16 and a white opaque plastics panel 18 which are bonded to one another in face-to-face contact.
• the panels 16, 18 are arranged to define a stepped arrangement which co-operates with the stepped peripheral rim 6 so that the upper member 14 and casing 4 can readily be secured to one another in a watertight manner.
• the smoked panel 16 is a planar rectangular panel.
• the opaque panel 13 is rectangular and generally planar, except that an opening 20, arranged in the shape of an alphanumeric character (for example the letter "A" in the figures) , is defined therein.
• the upper member 14 also incorporates a solar cell 26 which is arranged to re-charge the battery.
• a light level sensing device (not shown) is associated with the element 2.
• the device is arranged to sense when the ambient light level falls below a predetermined level and to cause the element 2 to operate automatically in this event.
• the element 2 is provided with a layer of double- sided adhesive tape (not shown) on its lower surface 28.
• a sign comprising a plurality of sign elements 2 of the type described above may be assembled, for example outside a shop, simply by securing selected elements to a planar surface using the double-sided adhesive tape provided on the elements.
• a sign comprising a plurality of sign elements 2 could be mounted on a free-standing and/or portable unit. When assembled each element of the sign operates as described below.
• the solar cell During daylight hours, the solar cell generates an electric current which re-charges the battery of the sign element.
• the light sensing device communicates this fact to the printed circuit board 10 which, accordingly, allows current to flow to the LEDs which, therefore, emit light.
• the emitted light is transmitted through the smoked panel 16 and through the opening(s) defined in the opaque panel 18 and, accordingly, the alphanumeric character defined by the shape of the opening(s) appears as an illuminated character.
• the sign elements may be made of any desired size. In a preferred embodiment the elements have a height of about 15 cm, a width of about 10 cm and a depth of about 2 cm.
• the invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) .
• the invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and ⁇ rawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
• Polymers With Sulfur, Phosphorus Or Metals In The Main Chain (AREA)
• Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
• Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10762823

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1994
  • 1994-10-14 GB GB9420709A patent/GB2294148A/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1995
  • 1995-10-12 EP EP95933540A patent/EP0786129B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-12 NZ NZ293673A patent/NZ293673A/en unknown
  • 1995-10-12 DE DE69507044T patent/DE69507044D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-12 CA CA002202537A patent/CA2202537A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-10-12 AT AT95933540T patent/ATE175290T1/de active
  • 1995-10-12 WO PCT/GB1995/002415 patent/WO1996012268A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-10-12 AU AU36160/95A patent/AU693603B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-10-12 BR BR9509339A patent/BR9509339A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-10-13 ZA ZA958654A patent/ZA958654B/xx unknown
  • 1995-10-13 IL IL11562095A patent/IL115620A0/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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