GB2202668A

GB2202668A - House signs

Info

Publication number: GB2202668A
Application number: GB08806446A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Henry Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-18
Filing date: 1988-03-18
Publication date: 1988-09-28
Also published as: GB8806446D0; GB8706387D0

Abstract

A house sign 10 has a housing 14 containing a light source 16, low voltage power supply 18 and light sensor 40. The housing is provided with a cover 12 of translucent plastics material on which the house name or number is formed in contrasting or normally opaque lettering or numbers. The light-sensitive device 40 in the circuit monitors ambient light intensity and controls a switch 30 in the circuit to the light source 16. During daylight hours the light source is off. When darkness falls the light source is energised, illuminating the sign. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Improvements in and relating to Signs The present invention relates to signs and particularly to signs which show house numbers or house names.

One of the problems associated with current house numbers is that they are extremely difficult to read from a vehicle. This is a considerable disadvantage for services such as the emergency services and for taxi drivers, delivery men and the like making it difficult to locate a particular house at night.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved sign.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a sign for a house or the like, the sign having electrical means for illuminating the sign, power supply means for said electrical means and control means operable to control the supply of power to said electrical means in dependence upon the intensity of ambient light.

In a preferred form of the invention the house sign is provided on a translucent surface and the electrical means provides back illumination.

The term "symbol" used herein means any visible marking or marking and includes letters, numerals and emblems.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a front elevation of a housing for a house number incorporating the circuit of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, these show a house sign 10 on which the number (in this case 77) of the house is displayed.

The number is formed on a translucent background 12, for example a sheet of translucent plastics material, which serves as a cover for a housing 14 in which a light source 16, normally a low voltage bulb, and the circuit of Figurel are contained.

The circuit 18 has a mains transformer 20 whose secondary winding 22 provides an output which is rectified by a diode rectifier bridge 24 to provide a low, DC voltage of typically 12 volts.

The voltage from the rectifier 24 is applied via positive and negative supply rails 26, 28 to the switch contacts 30 of a relay 32. The switch contacts 30 are connected in series with the light source 16.

The circuit 18 has a transistor 34 whose emitter is connected to the supply rail 28 and whose collector is connected through a coil 36 of the relay 32 to the positive supply rail 26. A reverse biased diode 38 is connected in parallel with the coil 36 to provide protection for the transistor 34.

A photocell 40 is connected in series with a fixed resistance 42 and a variable resistance 44 across the supply rails 26, 28. The junction of the photocell 40 and resistance 42 is connected to the base of transistor 34.

Smoothing capacitors 46, 48 are connected respectively across the photocell 40 and the supply rails 26, 28.

In operation, during daylight, light falling on the photocell 40 holds the voltage at the base of transistor 34 low, turning off the transistor. Thus the coil 36 is unenergised and the contacts 30 of relay 32 remain open. As darkness falls and the light falling on the photocell 40 is reduced, the transistor 34 turns on, energising the coil 36 and closing contacts 30. The light 16 is therefore lit, illuminating the number 77 on the sheet 12 so that the number is visible from some considerable distance.

The power used by the invention is negligible and as will be appreciated the invention provides a simple and effective way of automatically illuminating house numbers, names and the like.

Claims

1. A sign for a house or the like, the sign comprising support means for carrying a symbol, electrical means for illuminating the symbol, power supply means for said electrical means and control means operable to control the supply of power to said electrical means in dependence upon the intensity of ambient light.

2. A sign as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support means is formed of translucent material and said electrical means provides back illumination.

3. A sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said electrical means and said power supply means are contained in a housing and said support means forms a wall of said housing.

4. A sign as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said control means includes a photocell means and is operable to inhibit the supply of power to said electrical means during daylight hours.

5. A sign substantially as herebefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.