IL101196A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for treating a medium to recover lactic acid contained therein, comprising contacting the medium with a solid-phase polymer having tertiary amine functions in free base form to adsorb the lactic acid, desorbing said lactic acid by displacement on the polymer with a stronger acid, and recovering a lactic acid fraction substantially free from contamination by the stronger acid.

Description

ILLUMINATED SIGN The present invention relates to an illuminated sign and to a panel for use therewith.

More particularly, the invention provides an illuminated display wherein the indicia are shown on highlighted backgrounds, which may be in one or several colours.

Road signs and advertising texts are required to draw attention to themselves during the day, and preferably also at night. For this purpose, many billboards are floodlit during the hours of darkness. Another type of road sign or advertisement is constructed in the form of a translucent enclosure containing electric lighting, with the message displayed in dark or coloured lettering on an outer surface. Fluorescent paints and inks are also used in a constant struggle to be noticed among many other competing signs. Neon-lit signs, which are often arranged to flash on and off, have been known for many decades, the message being formed by bending the glass tubing to be illuminated into the desired form.

Particularly in the field of advertising consumer products, there is a constant demand for novel display means which may succeed in drawing the attention of potential customers. With this need in mind, the present invention provides an illuminated sign, comprising a first light-transparent panel having indicia oh an outer surface thereof and at least one light source positioned to illuminate an inner surface thereof; a light-opaque material being provided along said inner surface and having at least one opening positioned opposite to the indicia but exposing an area of panel greater than the area covered by the indicia. The contour of the boundary of the exposed area follows the contour of the indicia. Light passing from the light source through the opening and through the exposed panel area provides a framing highlight for the indicia.

In a preferred embodiment of this illuminated sign, said panel is provided with a plurality of indicia and said opaque material is provided with a plurality of openings, individual openings corresponding in . position to respective individual indicia, each of said openings enabling highlighting, in individually selected colours, of its associated indicia.

The invention further provides a light-transparent panel adaptable for use in an illuminated sign, having indicia provided on an outer surface thereof; a light-opaque material being provided along said inner surface and having at least one opening positioned opposite said indicia but exposing an area of panel greater than the area covered by the indicia. The contour of the boundary of the exposed area follows the contour of the indicia. Light passing through the opening and through the exposed panel area provides a framing highlight for the indicia.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the illuminated sign according to the invention, the thickness of thin materials being exaggerated to enhance clarity; Fig. 2 is a front view of the same sign; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is -a cross-sectional side elevation of a third embodiment requiring no power source, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a panel for use in an illuminated sign according to the invention.

There is seen in Figs. 1 and 2 an illuminated sign 10, comprising a light-transparent panel 12. Panel 12 forms the front face of enclosure 14, and has an inner face 12a and outer face 12b. Panel 12 may suitably be made of a sheet of white acrylic; this thermoplastic has outstanding weatherability, an essential material property, as most illuminated signs are intended for outdoor use.

Panel 12 allows the passage of light therethrough, but complete glass-like transparency is neither required nor desirable .

Indicia 16, which may, for example, form a street sign, house number or advertising message, are provided on outer face 12b. The indicia 16 shown are formed by painting; other embodiments use thin opaque stick-on plastic.

Light source 20, preferably consisting of at least one fluorescent bulb, is positioned to illuminate inner face 12a of panel 12. In this embodiment of sign 10, illumination is direct; in other embodiments, illumination is provided by a light reflector (not shown), which may act to diffuse, as well as to reflect, light received from light source 20, whereby a more evenly illuminated sign is achieved.

Light-opaque material 22 is provided along inner face 12a of panel 12; shown is an opaque plastic film adhesively attached thereto. Material 22 is provided with at least one opening 24 positioned opposite indicia 16, but exposing an area 26 of panel 12 which is greater than the area covered by indicia 16. The contour of boundary 28 of exposed area 26 follows the contour of indicia 16.

In operation, light passes from light source 20 through opening 24 and through exposed panel area 26, providing a framing highlight for indicia 16.

There is seen in Fig. 3 a second preferred embodiment of an illuminated sign 28, which is similar to sign 10, but with the exceptions described further below.

Coloured light-transparent material 30, such as a rigid or flexible plastic, for example, a vinyl film, is provided to span opening 24, thus producing a coloured, high-lighted effect for indicia 16. Panel 32 is provided with a plurality of indicia 16, and opaque material 34 is provided with a plurality of openings 24 which correspond in their respective positions to individual indicia 16. Use of pieces of differently-coloured light-transparent material 30 to span openings 24, will result in the highlighting of associated indicia 16 in individually selected colours.

Indicia 16 are selected from letters, numerals, designs, and combinations thereof. Although the illuminated sign may be used to display any text or information, it is of particular value in advertising.

Opaque material 34 may advantageously comprise a light-coloured surface 36 facing panel 32 and dark-coloured surface 38 facing light source 20. White is particularly preferred for the light-coloured surface, and black for the dark. Surface 38 is effective in preventing light transmission outside area 26. Where large signs are to be fabricated, the opaque material may be composed of many smaller pieces .

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of illuminated sign 40, which requires no power source and is therefore of value in locations where there may be difficulty in obtaining connection to electric power, for example, at the sides of country roads.

Sign 40 is generally similar to the sign depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, but the light source is solar radiation, direct or diffuse, or illumination provided by another source outside the sign, which in some locations may be street lighting. Protective cover 41 is advantageous. Whatever the light source, it is accepted by reflector 42 and directed onto inner face 12a of panel 12 as shown by the arrows, and acts to provide a framing highlight for indicia 16.

Fig. 5 shows light-transparent panel 44 for use in an illuminated sign 46, arranged to be attachable to a sign 46 provided with light source 48. The front face 50 of sign 46 is provided with means such as slides, clips, or fasteners 52 to allow the convenient attachment and later removal of panel 44. Front face 50 may comprise an empty frame. Panel 44 has indicia 16 provided on outer surface 44a, and light-opaque material (not shown) is provided on inner surface 44b.

At least one opening 24 is positioned opposite indicia 16 but exposing an area 26 of panel 44 which is greater than the area covered by indicia 16. The contour of the boundary 28 of exposed area 26 follows the contour of indicia 16, as in previous embodiments. Light passing through opening 24 through exposed panel area 26 provides a framing highlight for indicia 16.

As is known, advertising texts need to be changed quire frequently, and panel 44 meets this need by allowing replacement of the panel only, while sign 46 and light source 48 remain in place.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof . The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indiciated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (9)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An illuminated sign, comprising: a first light-transparent panel having indicia provided on an outer surface thereof and at least one light source positioned to illuminate an inner surface thereof; a light-opaque material being provided along said inner surface and having at least one opening positioned opposite said indicia but exposing an area of panel greater than the area covered by said indicia; the contour of the boundary of said exposed area following the contour of said indicia; whereby light passing from said light source through said opening and through said exposed panel area provides a framing highlight for said indicia.

2. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, further comprising coloured light-transparent material provided in said opening, to produce a coloured highlighted effect on said indicia.

3. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said opaque material comprises a light-coloured surface facing said panel, and a dark-coloured surface facing said light source.

4. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said light-coloured surface is white, and said dark-coloured surface is black.

5. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said panel is provided with a plurality of indicia and said opaque material is provided with a plurality of openings; individual openings corresponding in position to respective individual indicia, each of said openings enabling highlighting, in individually selected colours, of its associated indicia.

6. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said indicia are selected from letters, numerals, designs, and combinations thereof.

7. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a reflector accepting direct and diffuse solar radiation.

8. A light-transparent panel adaptable for use in an illuminated sign as claimed in claim 1, said panel having indicia provided on an outer surface thereof; a light-opaque material being provided along an inner surface thereof having at least one opening positioned opposite said indicia, but exposing an area of panel greater than the area covered by said indicia, the contour of the boundary of said exposed area following the contour of said indicia; whereby light passing through said opening and through said exposed panel area provides a framing highlight for said indicia.

9. An illuminated sign, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the Applicant: WOLFF, BREGMAN AND GOLLER