GB2040534A

GB2040534A - Illuminated Sign

Info

Publication number: GB2040534A
Application number: GB7942142A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Villard J P
Current assignee: Villard J P
Priority date: 1979-01-17
Filing date: 1979-12-06
Publication date: 1980-08-28
Also published as: LU81916A1; IT1125866B; DE8000968U1; ES254168U; FR2447067A1; BE881176A; IT7927550A0

Abstract

A display device including a substantially horizontal box 1 closed at the top by a transparent panel 6, designed to take a publicity display 5, and comprising means of lighting 7 capable of illuminating the display from below, the said box being adapted for installation in an opening in a pavement or some other largely horizontal surface across which pedestrians walk, so that the top face of its transparent panel is located flush with the said surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Display Devices The present invention relates to a display device publicity support, and, more particularly, an illuminated display device.

At present display or publicity panels are often arranged vertically, either against existing walls, or on special supports. This traditional display procedure harms the quality of an environment, in particular, in towns. Its effectiveness may therefore be doubted, in particular in the case of vertical panels located at a great height, which are hardly seen by pedestrians.

This invention is intended to provide another system display for publicity purposes which obviate or mitigate, the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a display device including a substantially horizontal box, closed at the top by means of a transparent panel, designed to take a publicity display, and comprising means of lighting capable of illuminating the display from below, the said box being adapted for installation in an opening in a pavement or some other largely horizontal surface across which pedestrians walk, so that the top face of its transparent panel is located flush with the said surface.

This display device, intended particularly for small, average or large towns, has a structure based on certain well-known luminous display devices, but its top transparent panel must be very strong and scratch-resistant, in order to withstand the weight of pedestrians walking across it, and the wear caused by the passage of a great many people. The horizontal publicity system flush with the ground, as created in this way, does not constitute any sort of attack on the urban environment, and it turns out to be effective, since pedestrians usually look downwards about 10 metres ahead of themselves when walking.

This system even has the advantage of constituting a decorative element for pavements, which are generally grey and depressing, and so contribute positively to the embellishment of towns. The means of lighting, such as fluorescent tubes, render the display visible at night so that the publicity is continuous. Of course special effects may be created if so desired, by combining several similar supports arranged for example at intervals of 1 5 metres along the pavement, and creating a sort of luminous mosaic, or providing intermittent lighting. The arrangement and location of these publicity supports is obviously not limited to pavements; it is also possible to envisage them for squares, streets reserved for pedestrians, subways and, more generally, any public places.Quite obviously the system of publicity in accordance with this invention may be conceived not only as completely replacing the traditional type of publicity display, but also as an addition to the traditional publicity display.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing two possible arrangements of a display device or publicity support in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through such a publicity support.

A publicity support takes the form of a horizontal box 1, rectangular in shape, for example 3 m in length and 1.5 m in width, with a thickness of 0.20 to 0.25 m. This box is arranged in an opening of corresponding shape 2 made in a pavement 3, the longitudinal or transversal sides of the said box being parallel to the kerb 4 of the pavement (see Fig. 1).

As shown in Fig. 2, box 1 takes a publicity display 5 arranged horizontally and placed under a glass panel 6 which is very thick, and capable of withstanding the weight of several persons, and possibly the weight of a car which might be parked on pavement 3. The top face of glass panel 6 is located flush with the surface of pavement 3, so that the device creates no obstacle or no discontinuity on this pavement.

Means of attachment, which are not shown, may be provided to lock box 1 and its glass panel 6 in their location, in order to avoid any destruction or opening, whilst allowing the withdrawal or opening of the device for roadworks and, of course, for periodic replacement of publicity display 5.

Box 1 and its glass sealing panel 6 should preferably be made so that during the day, they pick up adequately natural light to render display 5 visible. To light up the publicity display during the night, or even during the day if the natural light is inadequate, fluorescent tubes 7 are arranged in the bottom of the box 1, under display 5 which will therefore be lit up from underneath.

To supply these fluorescent tubes 7 a direct connection to the public electric mains may be provided, or a connection to a separate source of electric power such as a battery, or a system which accumulates power from solar energy during the daylight.

It is obvious, and quite clear from the foregoing, that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above by way of example; on the contrary it will cover any variants based on the same principle. Thus it will not be a departure from the spirit of the invention to modify the dimensions or shape of the box, to select means other than fluorescent tubes to light up the publicity display, or again to add additional provisions, for a utility or decorative purpose, such as a frame surrounding the top glass panel.

Claims

1. A display device including a substantially horizontal box, closed at the top by a transparent panel, designed to take a publicity display, and comprising means of lighting capable of illuminating the display from below, the said box

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Display Devices The present invention relates to a display device publicity support, and, more particularly, an illuminated display device. At present display or publicity panels are often arranged vertically, either against existing walls, or on special supports. This traditional display procedure harms the quality of an environment, in particular, in towns. Its effectiveness may therefore be doubted, in particular in the case of vertical panels located at a great height, which are hardly seen by pedestrians. This invention is intended to provide another system display for publicity purposes which obviate or mitigate, the aforementioned disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a display device including a substantially horizontal box, closed at the top by means of a transparent panel, designed to take a publicity display, and comprising means of lighting capable of illuminating the display from below, the said box being adapted for installation in an opening in a pavement or some other largely horizontal surface across which pedestrians walk, so that the top face of its transparent panel is located flush with the said surface. This display device, intended particularly for small, average or large towns, has a structure based on certain well-known luminous display devices, but its top transparent panel must be very strong and scratch-resistant, in order to withstand the weight of pedestrians walking across it, and the wear caused by the passage of a great many people. The horizontal publicity system flush with the ground, as created in this way, does not constitute any sort of attack on the urban environment, and it turns out to be effective, since pedestrians usually look downwards about 10 metres ahead of themselves when walking. This system even has the advantage of constituting a decorative element for pavements, which are generally grey and depressing, and so contribute positively to the embellishment of towns. The means of lighting, such as fluorescent tubes, render the display visible at night so that the publicity is continuous. Of course special effects may be created if so desired, by combining several similar supports arranged for example at intervals of 1 5 metres along the pavement, and creating a sort of luminous mosaic, or providing intermittent lighting. The arrangement and location of these publicity supports is obviously not limited to pavements; it is also possible to envisage them for squares, streets reserved for pedestrians, subways and, more generally, any public places.Quite obviously the system of publicity in accordance with this invention may be conceived not only as completely replacing the traditional type of publicity display, but also as an addition to the traditional publicity display. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, showing two possible arrangements of a display device or publicity support in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through such a publicity support. A publicity support takes the form of a horizontal box 1, rectangular in shape, for example 3 m in length and 1.5 m in width, with a thickness of 0.20 to 0.25 m. This box is arranged in an opening of corresponding shape 2 made in a pavement 3, the longitudinal or transversal sides of the said box being parallel to the kerb 4 of the pavement (see Fig. 1). As shown in Fig. 2, box 1 takes a publicity display 5 arranged horizontally and placed under a glass panel 6 which is very thick, and capable of withstanding the weight of several persons, and possibly the weight of a car which might be parked on pavement 3. The top face of glass panel 6 is located flush with the surface of pavement 3, so that the device creates no obstacle or no discontinuity on this pavement. Means of attachment, which are not shown, may be provided to lock box 1 and its glass panel 6 in their location, in order to avoid any destruction or opening, whilst allowing the withdrawal or opening of the device for roadworks and, of course, for periodic replacement of publicity display 5. Box 1 and its glass sealing panel 6 should preferably be made so that during the day, they pick up adequately natural light to render display 5 visible. To light up the publicity display during the night, or even during the day if the natural light is inadequate, fluorescent tubes 7 are arranged in the bottom of the box 1, under display 5 which will therefore be lit up from underneath. To supply these fluorescent tubes 7 a direct connection to the public electric mains may be provided, or a connection to a separate source of electric power such as a battery, or a system which accumulates power from solar energy during the daylight. It is obvious, and quite clear from the foregoing, that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above by way of example; on the contrary it will cover any variants based on the same principle. Thus it will not be a departure from the spirit of the invention to modify the dimensions or shape of the box, to select means other than fluorescent tubes to light up the publicity display, or again to add additional provisions, for a utility or decorative purpose, such as a frame surrounding the top glass panel. Claims

1. A display device including a substantially horizontal box, closed at the top by a transparent panel, designed to take a publicity display, and comprising means of lighting capable of illuminating the display from below, the said box being adapted for installation in an opening in a pavement or some other largely horizontal surface across which pedestrians walk, so that the top face of its transparent panel is located flush with the said surface.

2. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.