GB2170032A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminated sign construction utilizes a single source of illumination 40 to back-light a transparency 50 and an inner frame 12 of translucent material contained within an opaque housing 11. The exposed edge 35 of the inner frame emits a glow resembling that of a fluorescent tube. The exposed edge 35 is preferably of rounded configuration to achieve additional brightness. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Illuminated sign The invention relates generally to illuminated advertising displays form use at point of purchase locations to attract the attention of a buyer, and more particularly to an illuminated advertising display particularly suited for displaying art work in the form of a transparency.

Transparencies are commonly used in graphic art displays, and usually take the form of a light box containing a source of illumination and a diffusing screen which distributes the light rays emanating therethrough to provide substantially even illumination. While very effective, such displays lack the dramatic attractive effect of neon tubes which are commonly used in commercial establishments as part of an illuminated sign not containing graphic art displays. Although efforts have been made to simulate a neon tube surrounding a graphic art display by providing a continuous area of light transmitting material, and illuminated by the same light source, the effect created is usually disappointing in that the transmitted light lacks intensity and brillance, so that little enhancement of the graphic art display is obtained.While it is not impossible to provide an actual neon tube for the contemplated purpose, such tubes are expensive to manufacture, and do not eliminate the need for separate illumination of the graphic art display.

According to the invention there is provided an illuminated sign comprising: and outer housing of relatively opaque material and defining a forwardly facing opening, an inner frame of planar translucent synthetic resinous material having a degree of colour distributed throughout the body thereof, the inner frame having a forward peripheral edge dis posed within the border of the opening in the housing and defining a second forwardly facing opening; supporting means disposed within the second opening for supporting a transparency and illuminating means disposed rearwardly of the supporting means for illuminating the transpar ency; the illuminating means also distributing light to inner surfaces of the inner frame to be refracted to exit from the forward peripheral edge thereof and form an illuminated border surrounding the transparency.

The inner frame is adantageously formed of tinted synthetic resinous translucent material and has a depth substantially equal to the depth of the outer housing with its inner surfaces lying in the path of light rays emanating from the illumination source. The outer peripheral edge of the inner frame is preferably rounded and projects slightly beyond the plane of the transparency to provide a framing effect. Light rays falling upon the inner planar surfaces of the inner frame are refracted to emanate from the curved outer peripheral edge.

The relatively small degree pf colour present in the synthetic resinous material appears with deep in tensity at the outer edge with a brillance approach ing that of a neon tube.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of an iluminated sign according to the invention as seen from the plane 1-1 in Figure 2; and Figure 2 is a front perspective view thereof of the illuminated sign of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings an illuminated sign 10 comprises an outer housing 11, an inner frame 12, illuminating means 13, and transparency support means 14.

The outer housing 11 is of generally rectangular construction and may be made from any suitable planar opaque material. It includes an upper wall 20, first and second side walls 21 and 22, a lower wall 23 and a rear wall 24. If desired, the entire element 11 may be formed as a unitary moulding from suitable synthetic resinous materials.

The inner frame 12 is conveniently formed from thermo plastic planar synthetic resinous materials which have been lightly tinted during the manufacture thereof. Acryllic materials are particularly suitable. The dimensions of the inner frame 12 are such as to fit substantially completely within the outer housing 11. The inner frame 12 includes an upper wall 30, a lower wall 31, first and second side wall 32 and 33, which together form a continuous inner edge 34 and a continuous outer edge 35 which may project slightly outwardly of a corresponding continuous edge 26 of the housing 11.

The edge 35 is preferably rounded through an arc of approximately 180 .

The illuminating means 13 preferably includes a fluorescent tube 40 supported by a conventional fixture 41, the base 42 of which is supported upon an inner surface 43 of the rear wall 24. Although the tube 40 is illustrated as being of rectilinear configuration, where desired, a circleline fixture may be substituted. It will be abserved that the inner frame 12 has its inner edge 34 disposed rearwardly of the tube 40 for maximum light utilization.

The transparency support means 14 may be a transparent planar member 50 having a light diffusing coating on an inner surface thereof. The outer surface thereof is preferably disposed rearwardly of the edge 35.

Shown emanating from the tube 40 are a first plurality of light rays 55 which fall directly upon the inner surface of the member 50. A portion of the light is transmitted therethrough to illuminate a conventional transparency (not shown), with the remainder being reflected rearwardly to fall on inner surfaces 36 of the element 12. A second set of light rays 57 falls directly upon the surface 36, and in each case, these light rays are refracted within the body of the element 12 to exit through the surface forming the edge 35. Although the material from which the element 12 is formed of the walls 30-33, so that the edge 35, when seen by a viewer appears to be brilliantly coloured, and resembles the wall of a neon tube. This effect is caused by the fact that at least some of the rays falling upon the element 11 pass through the entire width of the walls. It has been found that the effect is not obtained where the width of the element 12 is reduced.

It will thus be appreciated that the effect of a neon tube in conjunction with an illuminated transparency has been achieved using only a single source of illumination, and without the necessity of forming an actual neon tube, thus substantially reducing the cost of fabrication of the sign.

Claims (6)

1. An illuminated sign comprising: an outer housing of relatively opaque material and defining a forwardly facing opening, an inner frame of planar translucent synthetic resinous material having a degree of colour distributed throughout the body thereof, the inner frame having a forward peripheral edge disposed within the border of the opening in the housing and defining a second forwardly facing opening; supporting means disposed within the second opening for supporting a transparency and illuminating means disposed rearwardly of the supporting means for illuminating the transparency; the illuminating means also distributing light to inner surfaces of the inner frame to be refracted to exit from the forward peripheral edge thereof and form an illuminated border surrounding the transparency.

2. An illuminated sign according to claim 1, in which the supporting means includes a transparent planar light diffusing member, the diffusing member reflecting a portion of the light rays falling thereupon onto the inner surfaces of the inner frame.

3. An illuminated sign according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the inner frame is formed of a lightly dyed acryllic material.

4. An illuminated sign according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the inner frame extends rearwardly of the illuminating means.

5. An illuminated sign according to claim 1, in which the housing has a rear wall, the illuminating means is mounted upon an inner surface of the rear wall and the inner frame has an inner peripheral edge extending rearwardly to the rear wall.

6. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.