GB2410601A

GB2410601A - Edge illuminated display

Info

Publication number: GB2410601A
Application number: GB0503329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter R Boney
Original assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Current assignee: East Coast Nursery Products Ltd
Priority date: 2001-10-17
Filing date: 2001-10-17
Publication date: 2005-08-03
Also published as: GB0124974D0; GB0503329D0; GB2382212B; GB2382212A

Abstract

An edge illuminated display has a light transmitting body 2 and at least one light source (10 figure 3) directing light in the direction of the plane of the body, the body being shaped to direct at least part of the light out of the plane of the body to form an image, characterised by the or each light source being controlled by a control unit having a timer and a dissolve unit. Alternatively the display may include a control unit controlling an integral music circuit and the or each light source, which control unit may also include means to switch between music and light, a timer and a dissolve unit. The body may be acrylic with a flat front surface and shaped by having a shape cut or engraved into its surface to form the image, which may be a picture 4. The light sources may be different coloured LED's located within apertures 6 formed in the body of the display. The display may be hung on a wall or included in a child's cot (1, figure 1).

Description

1 24 1 060 1 A Display The present invention relates to a display.

In order to aid the sleeping patterns of young babies, it is often preferable to have some sort of soothing night time entertainment located on or around the babies cot. Such entertainment includes, for example, a dimly lit picture or pattern located on, or in the immediate vicinity of the cot, such that the picture or pattern is clearly visible by the baby when the baby is lying in the cot. Soothing music is also useful to help the baby lO to sleep.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting body and at least one light source to direct light in the direction in the plane of the body, the body being shaped such that at least part of light received in the direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position, wherein the or each light source is controlled by a control unit having a timer and a dissolve unit.

The control unit may enable the display to be automatically turned on or off at various times during the night to aid a baby to sleep.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting body and at least one light source to direct light in the direction in the plane of the body, the body being shaped such that at least part of light received in the direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position, the display further including a control unit and an integral music circuit the or each light source and the music circuit being controlled by the control unit.

The presence of music as well as light aids the sleeping pattern of a baby.

The body of the display may be made of any suitable translucent or transparent material and in a preferred embodiment, the body is made of acrylic.

The body preferably has a flat front surface with shaping to redirect light received into it.

Using acrylic shaped in such a way produces a lit image that is clear and visible.

Preferably, the light image is formed by a shape cut into the surface of the body. This ensures suitable re-direction and spread of light to provide a clear visible image. The shape may also be engraved onto the surface of the body.

It is also preferable that the light image is a picture, as a recognisable image will aid the baby viewing the picture to sleep.

The or each light source may be an LED. This ensures that a suitable amount of light is transmitted through the image.

The or each light source may be coloured. This allows for a multicoloured image to be produced where a plurality of light images of different colours are provided.

Preferably, the or each light source is located within a respective aperture formed in the body. This obviates the need for a separate light source otherwise connected to the display.

The display may preferably have a plurality of light sources, and the light sources may be in different colours. The dissolve unit may enable the colours to appear to be faded into one another to gradually change the colour of the pattern.

The display may further include means to hang it on a wall.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cot including a display according to the first or second aspect of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure I is a front view of a display in the embodiment the invention, having a picture thereon; Figure 2 is the side view of the display of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cot having the display of Figures 1 and 2 located thereon.

With reference to Figure 1, the present invention comprises a light transmitting body 2 made of acrylic material. The body 2 has a picture 4 engraved in one of its faces which m this case is a picture of a dove. A plurality of apertures 6 are drilled into the four edges 8 of the body.

Within each aperture 6 is provided an LED 10 (see Figure 2). The LEDs 10 are provided in various colours.

The LEDs 10 are connected to a controller (not shown). The controller includes a timer, a resolve unit and an integral music circuit. The control unit has independent switching means so as to switch between music or light. The dissolve circuit is able to fade one or more colours from the LEDs 10 into other colours so that the picture appears slowly to change colour. The controller may be run from the mains, or by standard batteries.

When emitting light, the LEDs 10 provide light through and across the acrylic body 2 and, due to the angle on which the picture 4 is engraved into the face of the body, lights up the picture. The overall resulting appearance to a viewer at right angles to the plane of the display is of a picture "suspended" in mid air as the picture will be much brighter than the rest of the body 2. As shown in Figure 3, the body 2 can form a cot wall.

In an alternative embodiment, where the display stands alone or is hung up on a wall, a picture or pattern is simply suspended in mid air.

The light emitted from the picture has the benefit of acting as a night light for the baby.

The configuration of the apertures 6 and LEDs 10 therein can be adapted to suit the picture 4 engraved or cut into onto the body 2.

Although Figure 1 shows each edge 8 having 4 apertures 6, it is clearly envisaged that any number of apertures can be provided in any combination of the 4 edges.

IS Furthermore, it is clearly envisaged that the body may be made of a suitable similar material to acrylic.

Claims

Claims 1. A display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting

body and at least one light source to direct light in the direction in the plane of the body, the body being shaped such that at least part of light received in the direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position, wherein the or each light source is controlled by a control unit having a timer and a dissolve unit.
2. A display comprising a generally plate like light transmitting body and at least one light source to direct light in the direction in the plane of the body, the body being shaped such that at least part of light received in the direction in the plane of the body is directed perpendicular to the plane of the body to form a light image for a person in that position, the display further including a control unit and an integral music circuit, the or each light source and the music circuit being controlled by the control unit.
3. A display according to claim 2, wherein the control unit further includes switching means to switch between music and light.
4. A display according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the control unit has a timer.
5. A display according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the control unit further comprises a dissolve unit.
6. A display according to claim 1, or claim 5, wherein the dissolve unit is able to fade colours of at least two light sources into each other.
7. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the display is made of acrylic.
8. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the display has a predominantly flat front surface with shaping to redirect light received into it.
9. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the light image is formed by a shape cut into the surface of the body of the display.
10. A display according to claim 9, wherein the light image of the display is a picture.
11. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each light source of the display is an LED.
12. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each light source is located within an aperture or apertures formed in the body of the display.
13. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each light source is coloured.
14. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the display has a plurality of light sources.
15. A display according to any preceding claim, wherein the display further includes means to hang it on a wall.
16. A cot including a display as claimed in any of the preceding claims.