GB2170031A

GB2170031A - Edge lighted display device

Info

Publication number: GB2170031A
Application number: GB08501267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sr Daniel W Leo
Original assignee: LEDAN Inc
Current assignee: LEDAN Inc
Priority date: 1985-01-18
Filing date: 1985-01-18
Publication date: 1986-07-23
Also published as: GB8501267D0; GB2170031B

Abstract

An edge lighted display device in which light is transmitted through a translucent panel 17, to be refracted by the presence of indicia 24 such as a crayon marking, to provide a luminescent appearance. The translucent panel 17 is made of a synthetic resinous material and is provided with a thin coating 20 on an outer surface 19 thereof of a hardened silicate material, whereby light rays pass in the plane of the junction between the outer surface 19 of the panel 17 and the inner surface 22 of the coating 20 prior to refraction for improved brilliance. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Edge lighted display device The invention relates generally to edge lighted displays, and more particularly to a display panel for use therewith in which the refractive ability of the display panel has been significantly improved over that of corresponding prior art devices.

Edge lighted displays, which feature a translucent panel to which light rays are introduced along an edge thereof to be refracted at a point where a substance placed upon a planar surface will be brightly illuminated are well known in the art.

An early example is described in the U.S. patent to Spencer, No. 1,146,361 granted July 13, 1915.

The Macau U.S. Patent No. 2,566,458 of September 4, 1951 discloses the use of a background coating of lamp black and a separate coating of purpurine gold to improve contrast, but not the intensity of light.

These earlier teachings employ a translucent panel of glass, although it is also known in the art to employ synthetic resinous material. While acceptable luminescent effects have been obtained with such prior art devices, the creation of a "Neon-like" quality has been unobtainable.

According to the invention there is provided an edge lighted display device including a translucent panel, and a source of illumination positioned to introduce rays of light thereinto in the plane of the panel to be refracted by the presence of a translucent display applied to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the panel has a thin translucent coating on an outer surface thereof to create a planar path, between an inner surface of the coating and said outer surface of the panel, for the passage of light rays, thereby to provide increased luminescence in areas of the panel where light rays are refracted.

An improved edge lighted display device is obtained which offers increased brilliance of illumination of applied indicia of a translucent nature, such as a wax crayon or the like. Light rays entering at the edge of the panel also travel in the plane of the outer surface of the panel, and beneath the coating, so that, when refracted by the translucent message bearing material, brilliance of outline is obtained to a degree previously unknown in the art. By using a coating material substantially harder than the synthetic resinous panel, improved durability can also be obtained.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of an edge lighted display device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the lower central part of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing an edged lighted display device 10 includes a rigid frame element 11, conveniently formed as a two piece injection moulding of synthetic resinous material. The element 11 includes a rear wall 12 and peripheral members, two of which are indicated by reference characters 13 and 14, which define a hollow recess 15 accommodating an illumination source 16 which may be either a lumiline or fluoroescent tube.

Supported between the peripheral members 13 and 14 is a translucent panel 17, which may be of polished glass, but which is preferably of acrylic material in the interest of light weight and lack of frangilibilty. The outer surface 19 thereof is provided with a transparent coating 20 of a hardened silicate material ranging in thickness from 0.076 to 0.127 mm (.0003 to .005 inches). Acrylic sheets provided with such a coating are known in the art, the coating normally being applied for purposes of protecting the surface 19 from scratching with repeated use. Suitable panels are available under the trademark ACQUE VU-A, and are marketed by Swedlow, Incorporated of 12122 Western Ave., Garden Grove, California, United States of America.

Referring to Figure 2, the abutment of the inner surface 22 of the coating 20 and the outer surface 19 of the panel 17 forms a plane which transmits the passage of light rays more readily than either the panel 17 or the coating 20 alone. Thus, when an indicia in the form of a crayon mark 24 or the like is placed on the outer surface 25 of the coating 20 the refractive effect is superior to that obtainable when only the panel 17 in uncoated form is used. While we have not been able to arrive at a definite theory of operation as to why a superior result is obtained, it does appear that it may be due to superior transmission of the light rays at the plane of meeting between the panel and the coating, and the fact that, once refracted, these light rays need only penetrate the thin coating without having to pass through the mass of material comprising the panel 17.

1. An edge lighted display device including a translucent panel, and a source of illumination positioned to introduce rays of light thereinto in the plane of the panel to be refracted by the presence of a translucent display applied to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the panel has a thin translucent coating on an outer surface thereof to create a planar path, between an inner surface of the coating and said outer surface of the panel, for the passage of light rays, thereby to provide increased luminescence in areas of the panel where light rays are refracted.

2. An edge lighted display device according to claim 1, in which the translucent coating varies in thickness between 0.076 and 0.127 mm (.003 and .005 inches).

3. An edge lighted display device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the coating comprises a hardened silicate material, and the panel is formed of acrylic material.

4. An edge lighted display device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Edge lighted display device The invention relates generally to edge lighted displays, and more particularly to a display panel for use therewith in which the refractive ability of the display panel has been significantly improved over that of corresponding prior art devices. Edge lighted displays, which feature a translucent panel to which light rays are introduced along an edge thereof to be refracted at a point where a substance placed upon a planar surface will be brightly illuminated are well known in the art. An early example is described in the U.S. patent to Spencer, No. 1,146,361 granted July 13, 1915. The Macau U.S. Patent No. 2,566,458 of September 4, 1951 discloses the use of a background coating of lamp black and a separate coating of purpurine gold to improve contrast, but not the intensity of light. These earlier teachings employ a translucent panel of glass, although it is also known in the art to employ synthetic resinous material. While acceptable luminescent effects have been obtained with such prior art devices, the creation of a "Neon-like" quality has been unobtainable. According to the invention there is provided an edge lighted display device including a translucent panel, and a source of illumination positioned to introduce rays of light thereinto in the plane of the panel to be refracted by the presence of a translucent display applied to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the panel has a thin translucent coating on an outer surface thereof to create a planar path, between an inner surface of the coating and said outer surface of the panel, for the passage of light rays, thereby to provide increased luminescence in areas of the panel where light rays are refracted. An improved edge lighted display device is obtained which offers increased brilliance of illumination of applied indicia of a translucent nature, such as a wax crayon or the like. Light rays entering at the edge of the panel also travel in the plane of the outer surface of the panel, and beneath the coating, so that, when refracted by the translucent message bearing material, brilliance of outline is obtained to a degree previously unknown in the art. By using a coating material substantially harder than the synthetic resinous panel, improved durability can also be obtained. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of an edge lighted display device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the lower central part of Figure 1. Referring to the drawing an edged lighted display device 10 includes a rigid frame element 11, conveniently formed as a two piece injection moulding of synthetic resinous material. The element 11 includes a rear wall 12 and peripheral members, two of which are indicated by reference characters 13 and 14, which define a hollow recess 15 accommodating an illumination source 16 which may be either a lumiline or fluoroescent tube. Supported between the peripheral members 13 and 14 is a translucent panel 17, which may be of polished glass, but which is preferably of acrylic material in the interest of light weight and lack of frangilibilty. The outer surface 19 thereof is provided with a transparent coating 20 of a hardened silicate material ranging in thickness from 0.076 to 0.127 mm (.0003 to .005 inches). Acrylic sheets provided with such a coating are known in the art, the coating normally being applied for purposes of protecting the surface 19 from scratching with repeated use. Suitable panels are available under the trademark ACQUE VU-A, and are marketed by Swedlow, Incorporated of 12122 Western Ave., Garden Grove, California, United States of America. Referring to Figure 2, the abutment of the inner surface 22 of the coating 20 and the outer surface 19 of the panel 17 forms a plane which transmits the passage of light rays more readily than either the panel 17 or the coating 20 alone. Thus, when an indicia in the form of a crayon mark 24 or the like is placed on the outer surface 25 of the coating 20 the refractive effect is superior to that obtainable when only the panel 17 in uncoated form is used. While we have not been able to arrive at a definite theory of operation as to why a superior result is obtained, it does appear that it may be due to superior transmission of the light rays at the plane of meeting between the panel and the coating, and the fact that, once refracted, these light rays need only penetrate the thin coating without having to pass through the mass of material comprising the panel 17. CLAIMS

2. An edge lighted display device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.

4. An edge lighted display device substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing. Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1 to 4 above have been deleted (b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: 1. An edge lighted display device including a translucent panel of acrylic material having its opposite surfaces smooth, and a source of illumination positioned to introduce rays of light thereinto in the plane of the panel to be refracted by the presence of a translucent display applied to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the panel has a thin translucent coating of silicate material of a thickness between .076 and .127mm (.003 and .005) on one of said opposite surfaces thereof to create a planar path, between an inner surface of the coating and said one of said opposite surfaces of the panel, for the passage of light rays, thereby to provide increased luminescence in areas of the panel where light rays are refracted.