GB2096378A

GB2096378A - Display apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2096378A
Application number: GB8204991A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRANS WORLD Manufacturing CORP
Current assignee: TRANS WORLD Manufacturing CORP
Priority date: 1981-03-17
Filing date: 1982-02-19
Publication date: 1982-10-13
Also published as: DK118082A; DE3209370A1; NL8201096A

Abstract

An illuminated display apparatus 10 comprises a front panel 12 substantially non-reflective and opaque and having transparent areas 18 adjacent opaque indicia 16 so as to highlight them, giving the opaque indicia a three-dimensional appearance. A diffraction grating (30) is positioned behind the front panel 12. Between the front panel 12 and the diffraction grating there is a light source (32, 33) A view through the transparent areas 18 of the front panel 12 to the diffraction grating provides a spectral display of light which changes colour as an observer (40) changes position. Optionally, translucent, light diffusing areas 21 are also defined in the front panel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display apparatus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is concerned with an illuminated display apparatus adapted to draw the observer's attention to the display. The apparatus has particular use in connection with advertising a product, service, etc. The invention is a modification of the display shown in U.S. Patent 4,067,129.

In particular, the display apparatus includes a generally opaque front panel. The displayed image is at least partly formed by transparent areas defined in the opaque front panel. A diffraction grating is position behind the opaque front panel so that light reflected from the diffraction grating passes through the transparent areas in the front panel. The diffraction grating behind the front panel changes the image observed through the transparent areas as the position of the observer changes relative to the display, thereby providing an aesthetically appealing and dynamic visual display.

For defining the transparent areas, the front panel may be opaque and have slots through it, or it may carry an opaque covering that is removed to define the transparent areas, etc. The transparent areas define words, symbols, a picture, etc., which an observer sees clearly when light shines through the transparent areas.

The front panel of the display is spaced forwardly of the diffraction grating, and they are joined together to form a composite housing. The diffraction grating is formed of a highly reflective material, and comprises a series of narrow slits or grooves on the surface of the material. These diffract the light, producing a large number of interfering light beams, so as to produce a spectral image.

At least one source of light is positioned between the front panel and the diffraction grating in the housing. The light source emits light omnidirectionally, and the light impinges on the diffraction grating where it is split into the visible light spectrum. The light is reflected from the diffraction grating and passes through the transparent areas on the front panel, whereby an observer can observe the vari-colored spectral display. The viewed display is dynamic in that the various spectral colors change position relative to one another and relative to the observer as the position of the observer changes with respect to the display.

U.S. Patent 4,067,129 discloses many of the features described above. In that patent, the front panel is mirrored or highly reflective on its front surface, which reflects the scene opposite the display and the observer himself when he is stationed before the display. This may distract an observer to whom the display is directed, and if the scene opposite the display is unattractive, the reflected image visible on the front panel could diminish an observer's desire to look at the display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the front panel is preferably generally non-reflective, at least to the extent that the scene opposite the display and the observer himself will not be readily visible to the observer looking at the front of the display. This is not to exclude the use of a smooth surfaced front panel, which may be reflective to an extent, but it is usually intended to exclude the highly reflective front panel disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,067,129.

The front panel is preferably opaque. The front panel may carry non-transparent indicia, and particularly opaque indicia, such as words, symbols, or the like, which may be located adjacent to or spaced from the transparent areas.

The indicia are visually different in some manner from the remainder of the opaque front. For example, the indicia may be of a different color or texture. In one embodiment, the opaque indicia present a message, and at least some of the transparent areas are associated with and are adjacent the opaque indicia formed on the front panel, and are shaped and designed to highlight the associated opaque indicia. For example, the transparent areas are placed to give a threedimensional or perspective view effect to the associated opaque indicia.

The front panel of the display may also carry translucent, light transmitting media which do not permit direct viewing of the diffraction grating behind the front panel but which instead diffuse light from the diffraction grating, creating yet another aesthetic impression.

The invention is directed to A display apparatus comprising: a front panel having a front and an opposite rear; said front panel having transparent areas formed therein, and said transparent areas cooperating with said front panel to define a visible image visible from said front of said front panel; said front panel carrying non-transparent indicia thereon to be visible from said front of said front panel; a said transparent area being placed adjacent a said non-transparent indicia for visually cooperating therewith and so that that said transparent area highlights the adjacent said nontransparent area and the cooperating said transparent and non-transparent areas define a combined indicia; a diffraction grating comprising a series of narrow slits or grooves which, by diffracting light, produce a large number of light beams which interfere in such a manner as to produce light spectra; means for positioning said diffraction grating behind and spaced from said front panel rear; a light source mounted behind said front panel in a position which will cause light produced thereby to impinge upon and be diffracted by said diffraction grating, whereby the light is diffracted into the colors of the visible spectrum; said light source and said diffraction grating being respectively positioned such that light diffracted by said diffraction grating passes through said transparent areas, whereby the colors viewed by an observer of said front panel through said transparent areas change as the observer changes position relative to said front panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display incorporating an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the display; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the display in the direction of and along the line joining arrows 3-3 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the display at line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the display at line 5-5 of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the display at line 6-6 of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A display apparatus 10 according to the invention includes a rectangular frame 11 which supports a front display panel 1 2. Except at the locations noted below, the panel 1 2 is opaque.

The opacity can be obtained by coating a surface, e.g. the rear surface 13, of an otherwise transparent material, e.g. a glass pane, front panel 12 with a layer 1 5 of an opaque coating material and by removing the coating at the below described light transmitting areas 14, 1 9.

The exterior or front surface 17 of the display panel 12 is generally non-reflective. This would be the case where the opaque layer on the panel is of an appropriate non-reflective material, e.g. matte paint and not mirror siivering. Alternatively, the front surface of the panel may be roughened so as to be non-reflective, may be of a material which is inherently non-reflective, etc. Of course, the front face of the panel may be shiny and smooth enough to be somewhat reflective, like a polished surface or the surface of a glass pane. However, it is intended that the front surface be sufficiently non-reflective that an observer 40 in front of the display would not be able to readily observe himself in the display or see a reflection of the scene opposite the display.As a result, the display itself would be emphasized, and the scene opposite the display would not be.

The front panel defines a display on it. In particular, the front panel has light transmitting, particularly transparent, areas 14, defined by removal of the opaque coating from the surface 13 of the panel or by a cut-out pattern in the panel, which permits the observer to look through the front plate to the below described diffraction grating 30.

In addition,.the front panel carries opaque decorative areas or indicia 1 6 on its rear surface 1 3, which can be a different color than, may be brighter than, but which are distinguishable from the remainder of the layer 15 observable from the front side 1 7 of the panel 12, so that these opaque indicia 1 6 will also be observable.

A particularly attractive feature of the display consists of juxtaposing transparent areas 18 for viewing of the diffraction grating with opaque indicia 1 6 on the front panel. As illustrated in Figs.

1 and 4, the thin transparent areas 21, which permit viewing of light from behind the panel are positioned along the sides of the opaque characters 16, which gives a very brightly illuminated, colorful display design at 1 8 accenting the opaque characters 1 6. The illustrated transparent areas 1 8 are placed so that the associated tellers appear to be in perspective or three-dimensioned.

Finally, there may also be a series of transparent areas 19 of the panel 12 which are covered by translucent or light diffusing material 21, so that an observer looking at these areas will merely see diffused light, and not observe the diffraction grating behind these areas.

Obviously, other arrangements of the various characters, images and areas on the panel 12 are possible.

An enclosure 20 is defined to the rear of the front panel 12. It includes a rear wall 22 which is slightly concavely curved on the inside of the enclosure 20. The rear wall is joined by lateral walls 24 on the top, bottom and lateral sides with the rear wall 22 and with the rear side of the frame 11, thereby defining the completed enclosure 20.

The entire internal surface of the rear wall 22, as well as the internal surface of the top and lateral walls 24, are covered with generally sheet like material 30 having a diffraction grating pattern defined thereon. The material 30 is adhered to the interior surfaces of the enclosure.

The diffraction grating is adapted to diffract and reflect light emitted from the lamps 32, 33.

As shown in Fig. 3, lamps 32 and 33 are secured to the frame 11 near the top and bottom walls 24 of the housing by appropriate brackets and they are electrified in the conventional manner. The ventilating slots 26 in the top and bottom walls prevent overheating of the enclosure due to energization of the lamp.

Upon looking at the display, an observer sees the combination of the image reflected from the diffraction grating through the transparent areas, any opaque indicia on the panel, accent lines accenting the opaque indicia and sees diffused illumination, without the diffraction grating being visible, at any translucent areas that may be provided.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended

Claims

claims. CLAIMS

1. A display apparatus comprising: a front panel having a front and an opposite rear; said front panel having transparent areas formed therein, and said transparent areas cooperating with said front panel to define a visible image visible from said front of said front panel; said front panel carrying non-transparent indicia thereon to be visible from said front of said front panel; a said transparent area being placed adjacent a said non-transparent indicia for visually cooperating therewith and so that that said transparent area highlights the adjacent said nontransparent area and the cooperating said transparent and non-transparent areas define a combined indicia; a diffraction grating comprising a series of narrow slits or grooves which, by diffracting light, produce a large number of light beams which interfere in such a manner as to produce light spectra; means for positioning said diffraction grating behind and spaced from said front panel rear; a light source mounted behind said front panel in a position which will cause light produced thereby to impinge upon and be diffracted by said diffraction grating, whereby the light is diffracted into the colors of the visible spectrum; said light source and said diffraction grating being respectively positioned such that light diffracted by said diffraction grating passes through said transparent areas, whereby the colors viewed by an observer of said front panel through said transparent areas change as the observer changes position relative to said front panel.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-transparent indicia comprise opaque indicia on said front panel and visible from said front of said front panel.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a translucent portion of said front panel adapted to transmit diffused light through said front panel.

4. The display apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said front panel is generally opaque, except for said transparent areas, and said nontransparent indicia are observably different from the opacity of said front panel.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein said front panel comprises a transparent plate that is covered by an opaque covering to render said transparent plate opaque and said transparent areas are areas from which said opaque covering is removed from said transparent plate.

6. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein said opaque covering is on said rear of said front panel.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said front panel comprises a glass pane.

8. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein said opaque covering is a material which is generally non-reflective, whereby said front panel is rendered generally non-reflective.

9. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein said front panel comprises a glass pane.

10. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein said front panel is generally non-reflective.

1 1.The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front panel is generally non-reflective.

12. A display apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 2/7/82 New or amended claims:

13. A display apparatus, comprising: a generally non-reflective, opaque front panel having non-transparent indicia defining a message to be conveyed formed thereon; a reflective diffraction grating located behind said front panel and spaced therefrom; a plurality of transparent areas formed on said front panel and outlining at least some of said indicia so as to highlight said indicia; and a light source located between said front panel and said diffraction grating, the relative positions of said front panel, said light source and said diffraction grating being such that light emitted by said light source impinges on said diffraction grating and is reflected therefrom through said transparent areas whereby said indicia is highlighted by said reflected light and said display provides the illusion that colors are swirling around said indicia.

14. The display of claim 13, wherein said nontransparent indicia comprises both opaque and translucent indicia which cooperate to define said message to be presented.

1 5. A display apparatus, comprising: a generally non-reflective, opaque front panel having opaque and translucent areas defining a message to be conveyed formed thereon; a reflective material located behind and spaced from said front panel, said reflective material adapted to receive light of at least one color from a light source and reflect light of at least one other color therefrom; said light source being located between said front panel and said reflective material; a plurality of transparent areas formed on said panel and outlining at least some of said indicia so as to highlight said indicia; and the relative location of said front panel, said light source and said reflective material being such that light emitted by said light source impinges on said reflective material and is reflected therefrom through said transparent areas whereby said indicia is highlighted by said reflected light.