GB2362022A

GB2362022A - Double skinned illuminated sign

Info

Publication number: GB2362022A
Application number: GB0106552A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beverley Mildred Graham; Morton Graham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-16
Filing date: 2001-03-16
Publication date: 2001-11-07
Also published as: GB0006198D0; GB0106552D0

Abstract

A illuminated double skin display unit comprises at least two sheets of material 12 and 13, spaced apart by a frame 10 and having an electrically illuminated display device 15 and 18 disposed in the space 13 between the sheets and visible through at least one sheet. Both sheets may be translucent or transparent. The frame may be impermeable to air thus providing a sealed double glazed unit. The electrical power supply may be housed in the frame. The display device may be attached to one of the sheets. The space between the sheets may be air, liquid, or vacuum. The display device may be an edge illuminated acrylic material 15 illuminated by an array of LED's 16 mounted on a PCB 17 in the frame. Power may be supplied by a conductor 19 passing through the frame. The unit provides a weatherproof illuminated sign that can be housed in a window or door unit.

Description

2362022 ANILLUMNATED DISPL.4Y UATT THIS INVENTION concerns an illuminated

double-skin display unit and particularly, though not exclusively, a double-glazed window having display means between the two glazing sheets.

LED technology has enabled the manufacture of very thin LED-illuminated display devices using, for example, acrylic materials which may be outwardly-diffusing such that light introduced at an edge of a sheet of such material may be visible when viewed towards the face of the material. With some outwardly-diffusing translucent plastics materials the illumination may spread across the entire sheet so that the sheet may be used as a sign providing promotional or directional information, or simply decoration.

Such LED-illuminated display materials may be manufactured with a thickness no great than 1cm, and it is an object of the present invention to provide such a display unit in, for example, a standard double-glazed window.

According to the present invention, there is provided an illuminated double-skin display unit comprising at least two sheets of -P09826material, at least one of which is translucent, superimposed and spaced apart by a common peripheral supporting frame; characterised by an electrically illuminated display device disposed between the sheets thus to be visible through said at least one translucent sheet; and by electrical power supply means connected to said display device.

Both sheets of material may be translucent and/or transparent.

The common peripheral supporting frame may be of a material which is airimpermeable thus to provide a sealed double-glazed unit.

The electrical power supply means may be housed within the common peripheral supporting frame.

The electrically illuminated display device may be attached to one of the sheets of material.

The space between the two sheets of material may contain a gas.

The space between the two sheets of material may contain a liquid.

The space between the two sheets of material may be evacuated.

The display device may comprise an outwardly-diffusing compound acrylic material.

The illuminated display device may display characters or numerals to provide a readable display.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 illustrates one example of an illuminated double- glazed display unit made in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, an illuminated double-glazed window comprises an outer frame 10 which may be of any framing -P09826material such as plastics, wood or aluminium, surrounding a doubleglazed window unit consisting typically of two sheets 11 and 12 of a transparent material, usually glass or alternatively a polycarbonate or acrylic material, superimposed and spaced apart a space 13 in between, by a peripheral supporting frame 14 which is air-impermeable to create a sealed double-glazed unit.

The air space 13 may be in excess of 1cm in depth and may be air, gas or liquid, or evacuated.

Now particularly in accordance with the invention, there is disposed in the space 13 an electrically illuminated display device which, in this example, comprises a rectangular frame 15 of a forward-diffusing acrylic material which may occupy all of or less than the depth of the space 13 and may, if required, be attached to the inner surface of one of the sheets of material, in this example the sheet 12.

Housed within the unit and preferably just within the supporting frame 14 is an array of LED's 16, mounted on a PCB 17 and arranged as required around the window unit.

The forward- diffusing nature of the material of frame 15 acts to transmit light from the LED's 16 outwardly through the sheets 11 -P09826and 12. Alternatively, an opaque coating may be provided between the frame 15 and the sheet 12 such that all of the light is transmitted towards and through the sheet 11.

This example further includes an additional display device 18 spaced inwardly from the frame 15 and comprising a further sheet of an acrylic material which may be outwardly-diffusing or surface-engraved to provide an illuminated display shown in this example as "ABC & Co.". A conductor track 19 which can be almost invisible, provides an electrical connection to the power supply for the unit. Again, in this example an LED array 20 may surround part or all of the device 18 to provide illumination thereof.

A general low-voltage power supply to the unit may be introduced through the frame 10 and through a sealed connector to the PCB 17.

It will be appreciated that any arrangement of illuminated display may be housed within the spaced 13 of the double-glazed unit thus to provide signage or decoration therefor, and the entire system is protected from ambient conditions and physical damage by being housed within the doubleglazed and sealed window or door unit.

In place of the frame 10 the sealed unit may be introduced into a window frame to replace an existing sealed unit.

LED technology enables the provision of a brightly illuminated display unit which may remain workable for 10 years or more but may be substituted, when required, by a replacement unit whereby users may change the display from time to time.

While this description has referred to a double-glazed unit, nevertheless a display unit may be provided having a solid and nontranslucent backing sheet, and a translucent or transparent front sheet, with the illuminated display device disposed between the two for protection.

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Claims

CIAIMS

1. An illuminated double-skin display unit comprising at least two sheets of material, at least one of which is translucent, superimposed and spaced apart by a common peripheral supporting frame; characterised by an electrically illuminated display device disposed between the sheets thus to be visible through said at least one translucent sheet; and by electrical power supply means connected to said display device.

2. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to Claim 1, wherein both sheets of material are translucent.

3. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to Claim 1, wherein both sheets of material are transparent.

4. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the common peripheral supporting frame is of a material which is air-impermeable thus to provide a sealed doubleglazed unit.

5. An illuminated double- skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical power supply means is housed within the common peripheral supporting frame.

6. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrically illuminated display device is attached to one of the sheets of material.

7. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the space between the two sheets of material contains a gas.

8. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the space between the two sheets of material contains a liquid.

9. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the space between the two sheets of material is evacuated.

10. An illuminated double- skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the display device comprises an outwardly-diffusing compound acrylic material.

11. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the illuminated display device displays characters or numerals to provide a readable display.

12. An illuminated double-skin display unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the display device is illuminated by an array of LED's mounted on a PCB, itself mounted on the common peripheral supporting frame.

13. An illuminated double-skin display unit wherein the electrical power supply means is connected to the display device via a conductor which passes through the common peripheral supporting frame.

14. An illuminated double-skin display unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.