GB2329996A

GB2329996A - Illuminated signs

Info

Publication number: GB2329996A
Application number: GB9821085A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angus Jonathan Bertram Stone; Kevin Mayo
Original assignee: Menvier Ltd
Current assignee: Menvier Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-03
Filing date: 1998-09-30
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-30
Also published as: GB2329996B; GB9720907D0; NL1010215A1; BE1011955A3; NL1010215C2; GB9821085D0

Abstract

An illuminated sign comprising a luminaire body, a lamp 3 mounted with respect to the body; a sign body 4 mounted such that the lamp is disposed at one edge or side of the sign body to provide light therein, the sign being provided with a legend, which legend is illuminated by light generated from the lamp and transmitted through the exit sign body. The sign body has a mounting portion which extends at least partially around the lamp so as to mount the sound body directly to the lamp.

Description

ILLUMTNATED SIGNS This invention relates to illuminated signs. In particular, it relates to emergency signs such as emergency exit signs which are positioned in public or other buildings and are illuminated when an emergency situation arises to indicate the position of exits, or to provide other information.

Exit signs are used to guide people out of a building by indicating the escape route on exit doors. Their legends are generally subject to law and regulations and their positions on the escape route are also covered by various standards and codes of practice.

There are three types of exit sign in common use.

The first type is in the form of an exit box comprising an- internally illuminated sign made in the form of a box, with panels fitted with the legend and being illuminated from within. A popular alternative is to use an existing emergency luminaire and to affix a self-adhesive label to the diffuser of the luminaire. The quality of the exit sign so produced is generally not particularly high but such signs are inexpensive and convenient.

A second conventional type of exit sign is an edge-lit sign where a legend is screen printed, adhered to or engraved in a plastic panel and light is shone into the material from a lamp mounted at the side or edge. The legend is illuminated as the entrapped light within the sign hits the legend and is released from the panel material.

A third conventional form of exit sign merely comprises a self-adhesive label or printed card which is fixed to a wall or door and is externally illuminated by an emergency light mounted adjacent to and above the sign.

Each of the above types of conventional sign has merit but they all suffer from various disadvantages.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved illuminated sign which may be used for emergency exit signs or for other uses where illuminated signs are required.

According to the present invention there is provided An illuminated sign comprising a luminaire body, a lamp mounted with respect to the body; a sign body having a mounting portion which extends at least partially around the lamp so as to mount the sign body directly to the lamp, with the lamp being disposed at one edge or side of the sign body to provide light therein, the sign being provided with a legend which is illuminated by light generated from the lamp and transmitted through the sign body.

The legend may be affixed to a face of the sign body, or may be integral with the body (eg. moulded in), screen printed or otherwise provided.

Preferably, the sign is connected to the lamp by an annular section body which substantially surrounds the lamp except for an opening where the sign body extends. The annular body may be provided with a shaped reflector surface to direct light from the lamp into the panel or sign body.

Preferably, the sign body is attached to an existing luminaire and lamp. In this way, a luminaire, which normally provides illumination only, can be converted into an illuminated sign.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a luminaire; Figure 2 shows a partial view of a luminaire with an exit sign attached; Figure 3 shows the luminaire and exit sign; Figure 4 shows the exit sign protruding from a cover mounted upon the luminaire body; and Figure 5 shows the exit sign.

Referring to Figure 1, a luminaire of known design comprises a bulk head portion 1 provided with brackets 2 at either end which support a gas discharge lamp 3. A lamp cover (not shown) which includes a diffuser is then normally mounted on top of the lamp such that the lamp shines through the diffuser to provide emergency illumination. The bulk head portion fits onto a ceiling or wall or may be recessed into a ceiling. Electronic circuitry for the lamp and a rechargeable battery and mains- powered battery charger are supported inside the bulk head. The luminaire is normally connected to the mains which keeps the battery charged for emergency use.

In embodiments of the present invention, a standard luminaire such as that shown in Figure 1 (or of other designs) is used. The luminaire is modified by the addition of an edge-lit exit panel 4 which is fitted with an appropriate legend and which is simply attached to the luminaire. Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, an 'existing' luminaire may be retrofitted with an exit panel (or a panel having any other legend or wording upon it).

The exit panel 4 is formed of a transparent plastics material and is provided, at one end, with an elongate collar portion 5 which is mounted over a lamp 3 of an existing luminaire. The collar is secured in place by an attachment member in the form of an outer collar 6 which is typically formed of an aluminium extrusion for example and which totally surrounds the lamp 3 and collar 5, except for the attachment of the exit panel 4. The aluminium extrusion is circular in external crosssection and is provided with a configuration (preferably an internal configuration) of shaped reflectors 7 which serve to direct light into the exit panel.

Although the exit panel in Figure 2 is shown as being in a horizontal disposition, it will be clear that the circular nature of collar 5 and extrusion 6 allows the panel to be mounted at any respective angle to the luminaire body 1. Thus, the luminaire can be wall mounted, ceiling mounted, or mounted at any angle between and the exit sign can be positioned so as to hang vertically down when the luminaire is in any ofthese dispositions.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view illustrating the exit sign 4 extending from an elongate gap in the attachment member 6.

To ease assembly of the device, exit sign 4 and its attached collar portion 5 is preferably manufactured in two identical parts 4a and 4b as shown in Figure 5. These are in effect conceptually formed by splitting the exit sign 4 of Figure 2 into half longitudinally. To assemble the exit sign, the lamp 3 is firstly removed from brackets 2. The two parts 4a and 4b of the exit sign are then placed on either side of the lamp with the parts of the collar 5 snugly contacting the lamp. Elongate attachment member 6 is then slid into place longitudinally along the lamp and serves to hold the two pieces 4a and 4b of the exit sign together and to secure them onto the lamp. The attachment member is preferably of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium which allows excess heat to be conducted away from the lamp, ensuring that the life of the lamp and the exit sign is not degraded by the fitting of the device.

The lamp is then replaced back onto brackets 2 in desired disposition so as to have the correct angle of hanging of the exit sign 4. A cover 8 (shown in Figure 4) may then be applied over the construction. Cover 8 has a longitudinally extending slot 9 which receives attachment member 6 so that the exit sign 4 protrudes through the slot 9 at a desired angle. The cover may be of any design but is preferably arranged to have some aesthetic appeal to improve the appearance of the exit sign. It may be of moulded plastics material for example.

The exit panel itself may be injection moulded in a preferred embodiment, although it may also be made of other means, such as made from sheet material.

Injection moulding of the exit panel 4 enables a legend to be moulded in to it, which is a lower cost option, or screen printed, or fixed to the surface ofthe exit panel. The panel may be suitably shaped to be more efficient in its receipt of light and may be tapered to minimise material which is not needed.

Although it is greatly advantageous to use an existing luminaire to provide an improved exit panel according to the invention, a specially designed luminaire may alternatively be used if appropriate.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An illuminated sign comprising a luminaire body, a lamp mounted with respect to the body; a sign body having a mounting portion which extends at least partially around the lamp so as to mount the sign body directly to the lamp, with the lamp being disposed at one edge or side of the sign body to provide light therein, the sign being provided with a legend which is illuminated by light generated from the lamp and transmitted through the sign body.
2. An illuminated sign as claimed in Claim 1, comprising an arcuate-section securing body mounted over the mounting portion to secure the sign body to the lamp.
3. An illuminated sign as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the securing body is generally annular in section and substantially surrounds the lamp and the mounting portion of the sign body except for an opening where the sign body extends.
4. An illuminated sign as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the securing body is provided with a shaped reflector surface to direct light from the lamp into the sign body.
5. An illuminated sign as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the lamp is an elongate gas discharge lamp.
6. An illuminated sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the legend is affixed to a face of the sign body.
7. An illuminated sign as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the legend is an integral part of the sign body.
8. An illuminated sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sign body is fixable to the lamp in any chosen disposition.
9. An illuminated sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sign body is formed of two substantially identical parts, thereby enabling the respective mounting parts to be placed around the lamp.
10. An illuminated sign as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sign is retrofitted to the lamp of an existing luminaire.
11. A method of making an illuminated sign as claimed in any preceding claim, the method comprising providing the luminaire body and lamp and mounting the sign body directly to the lamp by means of the mounting portion.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, further comprising securing the sign body with the securing body.
13. A method as claimed in Class 12, wherein the securing body is slid over the lamp and the mounting part of the slide body.
14. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of making an illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.