JP2013049992A - Internally illuminated sign - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an internally illuminated sign having a simple structure, which allows for excellent visibility.SOLUTION: An internally illuminated sign allows light from a lighting part to pass through a display part 3 from the rear side to the front side, so that a sign is displayed on the display part 3. The display part 3 is provided with a transparent lower layer 32 and a transparent upper layer 33 which is disposed in front of the lower layer 32. A window part 36 in a cutout shape of the sign through which the rear side is visible is formed in the upper layer 33, so that the sign of the display part 3 is displayed. A cutout part 37 passing through the lower layer 32 is formed inside the window part 36. The light passing through the display part 3 from the rear side to the front side has brighter visibility at the portion having the window part 36, so that a viewer easily recognizes the sign displayed on the display part 3. In the window part 36 where the light passing through the display part 3 from the rear side to the front side is more strongly recognized, the light passing through the cutout part 37 is further strongly recognized, so that a viewer more easily recognizes the sign displayed on the display part 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to an internally illuminated sign that is installed on a road or the like and used as a road sign or the like in order to prevent a traffic accident or the like.

  Road signs and traffic information signs installed on roads, etc., are often used that can display the display contents with light so that the display contents can be viewed well at night as well as at night. Various configurations have been proposed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sign panel in which a plurality of small holes are formed at appropriate intervals in the outline of the sign pattern, and a lighting device in which a plurality of small holes are formed in the surface of the light shielding cylinder and a fluorescent lamp is provided inside. And a plurality of optical fibers each having one end attached to each small hole of the sign panel and the other end attached to each small hole on the surface of the light shielding cylinder of the lighting device. Has been proposed by.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-189015

  The self-luminous marker described in Patent Document 1 is designed such that the light emitted from the optical fiber forms the contour of the marker pattern so that the contents can be seen well. However, there is a problem that the structure is complicated. It was.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides an internally illuminated sign that can be visually recognized with a simple structure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.
That is, the internally illuminated sign according to the present invention includes a translucent display unit and an illuminating unit, and light from the illuminating unit is transmitted from the rear to the front of the display unit, and the display is displayed on the display unit. An internally illuminated sign,
The display unit includes a translucent lower layer and a translucent upper layer provided on the front side of the lower layer,
The upper layer is formed with a notch-like window portion that can be viewed from the rear side in a display shape so that the display of the display portion is represented,
A cutout portion penetrating the lower layer is formed inside the window portion.

The internally illuminated sign according to the present invention includes a translucent lower layer and a translucent upper layer provided on the front side of the lower layer. Since the display of the display unit is expressed by forming a notch-shaped window part in a display shape, the light transmitted from the rear to the front of the display part is viewed more brightly at the part where the window part is formed. Thus, the displayed display on the display unit is easily recognized by the viewer.
And since the cut-out part that penetrates the lower layer is formed inside the window part, the light that passes through the cut-out part further in the window part where the light transmitted forward from the rear to the front of the display part is visually recognized strongly. It is strongly recognized and the display on the display unit is easily recognized by the viewer.

Further, if the lower layer is a retroreflective sheet having retroreflectivity of light, the headlight light of the vehicle irradiated from the front is retroreflected, and the display of the display unit is recognized by the driver of the vehicle. Can do.
And, in the cutout part formed in the lower layer, the irradiated light is not retroreflected, so the intensity of the retroreflected light is generated inside the window part representing the display, and the display on the display part is easily recognized by the driver. Since it is expressed, it is preferable.

  In addition, if the cutout portion is formed in an edge shape along the entire periphery of the window portion, the brightness of the light at the edge portion and other portions of the window portion representing the display content is strong. This is preferable because the content displayed on the display unit is easily recognized by the driver.

  According to the internally illuminated sign according to the present invention, it is possible to form a display unit with a simple structure that allows a good display to be visually recognized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a side view which shows one Embodiment of the internally illuminated sign which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the part of the character display of FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. The other form of implementation of the internally illuminated sign which concerns on this invention is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a side view. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing portions of frame display and graphic display of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings, 1 is an internally illuminated sign.
The internally illuminated sign 1 of this embodiment includes a display unit 3 formed in an inverted triangle shape and a frame unit 2 surrounding the periphery thereof.

  The internally illuminated sign 1 of the present embodiment is a restriction sign that indicates a temporary stop location, and the display unit 3 has a white frame line display 3a represented along an edge of an inverted triangle on a red background 3c, A white “stop” character display 3b shown near the center is formed.

The frame portion 2 includes three rod-shaped frame members 2 a disposed along the three sides of the display unit 3 and arc-shaped connecting members disposed at the three corner portions of the display unit 3, respectively. 2b, and an end of each frame member 2a is fixed and connected by a connecting member 2b to form an inverted triangular ring-shaped frame portion 2.
The frame member 2a of the present embodiment is formed by an aluminum extruded shape, and the connecting member 2b is formed by aluminum die casting. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other metal or resin is used as a material. You may let them.

A power generation unit 5 formed in a triangular prism shape is attached and provided on the upper part of the internally illuminated sign 1 so as to protrude rearward.
A solar cell 51 is provided on the upper surface of the power generation unit 5 facing upward, and the electric power generated by the solar cell 51 is stored in a power storage unit 52 built in the power generation unit 5. And the electric power of the electrical storage part 52 is provided to the illumination part 4 mentioned later, and is provided so that this may be light-emitted.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
The frame member 2a of the present embodiment includes a support portion 21 disposed at the end of the internally illuminated sign 1 and a plate-shaped holding portion 22 that protrudes from the support portion 21 to the inside of the internally illuminated sign 1. Yes. The holding part 22 is formed so as to protrude from the front side and the rear side in total, two pieces over the entire length of the support part 21, and the frame member 2 a is formed by the support part 21 and each holding part 22. It has a U-shaped cross section.

Each frame member 2a fixes the display part 3 by inserting the edge of the display part 3 between the protruding holding parts 22.
Specifically, a plate-shaped light guide plate 6 and a back plate 7 are arranged behind the display unit 3 formed in a plate shape, and the display unit 3 and the guide plate are interposed between the holding units 22. Each frame member 2a into which the edges of the three sides of the optical plate 6 and the back plate 7 are respectively inserted is connected to each end by each connecting member 2b to be formed into a ring-shaped frame portion 2, whereby a display portion 3, the light guide plate 6 and the back plate 7 are provided so as not to be detached from the frame portion 2, respectively.

In addition, packing S is attached between the display unit 3 and the light guide plate 6 and between the light guide plate 6 and the back plate 7 so as to form gaps, respectively. It is attached to each edge vicinity of the display part 3, the light-guide plate 6, and the backplate 7 so that it may be inserted between each holding part 22 of 2a.
Since the packing S is attached between the display unit 3 and the light guide plate 6 and between the light guide plate 6 and the back plate 7, intrusion of water or the like inside these gaps is suppressed. Further, the gaps are formed by the packing S between the display unit 3 and the light guide plate 6 and between the light guide plate 6 and the back plate 7, so that even when water enters the gap, the gaps caused by the capillary phenomenon are generated. The water is prevented from staying, and the water flows downward to facilitate drainage.

Of the three frame members 2a, the frame member 2a disposed above the display unit 3 is housed between the holding units 22 and attached to the illumination unit 4.
Specifically, the illuminating unit 4 of the present embodiment is formed in a rod shape and is attached so as to cover the substantially entire length of the frame member 2a, and the edges of the display unit 3, the light guide plate 6, and the back plate 7; It arrange | positions between the inner surfaces of the support part 21 of the frame material 2a.

The illumination unit 4 includes a rod-shaped holder 43 having a U-shaped cross section that opens downward, and a substrate 42 that is long in the longitudinal direction of the holder 43 is housed and attached inside the holder 43.
A plurality of LEDs 41 are arranged on the lower surface of the substrate 42 at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each LED 41 is attached to the substrate 42 so as to emit light downward, and the illumination unit 4 is provided so that light from each LED 41 is emitted downward from the opening of the holder 43.

The light guide plate 6 is arranged so that the upper edge thereof is located directly below each LED 41, and is provided so that light from each LED 41 enters the inside from the edge of the light guide plate 6. .
The light guide plate 6 of the present embodiment is formed as a colorless and transparent plate, and a large number of light diffusers 61 are attached in the form of dots over the entire rear surface. This is configured such that light incident from the edge of the light guide plate 6 is reflected by each light diffuser 61 and the front side of the light guide plate 6 is surface-emitted.
Further, the area of the light diffuser 61 per unit area of the light guide plate 6 is provided so as to increase from the upper side of the light guide plate 6 to the lower side.
As a result, the effect of reflection by each light diffuser 61 increases as the distance from the illuminating unit 4 as the light source decreases further down, and the front surface of the light guide plate 6 has a uniform light intensity as a whole. It is designed to emit surface light.

  Further, the light guide plate 6 of the present embodiment uses a configuration in which the dot-shaped light diffuser 61 is provided on the rear surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any light guide plate can be suitably used. For example, a light guide plate formed in a milky white color having translucency may be used.

  A metal plate, a resin plate, or the like can be suitably used for the back plate 7, and the back plate 7 of the present embodiment is formed of an aluminum plate. Further, the back plate 7 of the present embodiment is coated in white over the entire front side, and is provided so as to efficiently reflect light from the light guide plate 6 disposed on the front side toward the light guide plate 6 side. ing.

The display unit 3 includes a base plate 31 formed in a plate shape, a sheet-like lower layer 32 disposed in front thereof, and a sheet-like upper layer 33 disposed in front thereof. Yes.
The base plate 31, the lower layer 32, and the upper layer 33 have translucency, respectively, and the display unit 3 is arranged behind to transmit light from the light guide plate 6 that emits surface light and display at night. Visibility is improved.

3 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the character display 3b of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the “stop” portion of the character display 3 b of the display unit 3.
The lower layer 32 of this embodiment is attached by being attached to a base plate 31 formed in a colorless and transparent plate shape, and the upper layer 33 is attached by being attached to the lower layer 32.

Further, the lower layer 32 of the present embodiment is formed in white to represent the frame display 3a and the character display 3b of the display unit 3, and the upper layer 33 is formed in red to represent the background 3c of the display unit 3. It is provided as follows.
Specifically, the upper layer 33 is formed with a notch-like window portion 36 that can be visually recognized from the rear side, and this window portion 36 is formed in the shape of a frame line display 3a and a character display 3b. .
For the viewer viewing the display unit 3 from the front, the upper layer 33 is viewed as the red background 3c, and the lower layer 32 viewed from the window unit 36 is viewed on the white frame display 3a and the character display 3b. The

In addition, the lower layer 32 formed in white and the upper layer 33 formed in red are formed so as to be able to transmit light from the light guide plate 6 that emits surface light as a whole. In the portion, the light from the light guide plate 6 is not blocked by the upper layer 33, so that it is viewed brighter in the display unit 3.
In other words, the display represented by the window 36 of the display unit 3 that is internally illuminated by the light from the illumination unit 4 is brightly recognized to enhance the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is easily recognized by the viewer.

In the lower layer 32 of the present embodiment, a cutout portion 37 penetrating from the front surface to the rear surface is formed.
Specifically, the cutout portion 37 is formed so as to be located inside the window portion 36 formed in the upper layer 33, and in detail, the cutout portion 37 has an edge shape along the entire periphery of the window portion 36. Since the light from the light guide plate 6 is not blocked by the lower layer 32 in the cutout portion 37 formed in FIG. 6, it is viewed brighter in the window portion 36 and brightest in the display portion 3.
That is, the edge portion of the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 that is internally illuminated by the light from the illumination unit 4 is viewed brighter and accentuated to enhance the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is recognized by the viewer. It is made easier.

The lower layer 32 of the present embodiment is a translucent sheet that transmits light irradiated from the rear to the front, and has retroreflectivity that reflects the light irradiated from the front in parallel to the light source direction. It is a retroreflective sheet.
By forming the lower layer 32 with a retroreflective sheet, when the display unit 3 is irradiated with light from a headlight or the like of a vehicle traveling at night, the light transmitted through the upper layer 33 or the light transmitted through the window unit 36 Is retroreflected by the lower layer 32, and the retroreflected light is visually recognized by the driver of the vehicle, and the display represented by the display unit 3 can be recognized.

In addition, the light irradiated from the front and retroreflected to the lower layer 32 is not blocked by the upper layer 33 in the window portion 36, and is thus viewed brighter in the display unit 3.
That is, in the light that is irradiated from the front and retroreflected, the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 is viewed brightly to enhance the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is easily recognized by the viewer.

Further, the portion of the cutout portion 37 is visually recognized darker in the window portion 36 because light irradiated from the front is not retroreflected by the lower layer 32.
That is, in the light that is irradiated from the front and retroreflected, the edge portion of the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 is seen darker and becomes accentuated, and the attractiveness is enhanced, and the display represented by this is easily recognized by the viewer. Made.

The upper layer 33 of the present embodiment is formed of a translucent sheet, but is not limited thereto, and a configuration capable of forming the window portion 36 can be used as appropriate.
For example, it may be formed of a translucent paint or ink coating applied to the surface of the lower layer 32, or may be formed of an opaque paint or ink dot pattern applied to the surface of the lower layer 32. Alternatively, it may be formed in other configurations.

Further, in the internally illuminated sign 1 of the present embodiment, the light guide plate 6 is disposed behind the display unit 3, and the light guide plate 6 is surface-emitted by the light of the illumination unit 4 incident from the edge. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations that can internally illuminate the display unit 3 can be used as appropriate.
For example, it may be formed in a so-called backlight system in which an illumination unit is arranged behind the display unit 3 to emit light.

5A and 5B show another embodiment of the internally illuminated sign according to the present invention. FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a side view, and FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the part of a display.
The internally illuminated sign 1 according to the present embodiment is an instruction sign indicating the presence of a pedestrian crossing formed in a pentagon, and does not include the power generation unit 5 and surrounds the display unit 3 formed in a pentagon and the periphery thereof. The interior lighting shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is that the illumination unit 4 is housed and attached to a frame member 2a that includes two inclined sides arranged above the frame unit 2 and includes two inclined sides. This is a main matter different from the formula indicator 1.

  The display unit 3 of the internally illuminated sign 1 according to the present embodiment includes a blue background 3c, a white frame line display 3a represented along a pentagonal edge, and a white color represented inside the frame line display 3a. A graphic display 3d on which a picture of a pedestrian is drawn is formed.

The frame portion 2 includes five rod-shaped frame members 2 a disposed along the five sides of the display portion 3, and arc-shaped connecting members respectively disposed on the five completed portions of the display portion 3. 2b, which are connected to each other to form a pentagonal ring-shaped frame portion 2.
The cross-sectional shape of each frame member 2a is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and the two frame members 2a surrounding the two inclined sides above the pentagonal display unit 3 have the same configuration as FIG. Each lighting unit 4 is housed and attached.

  In each frame portion 2 of the present embodiment, the respective edges of the display unit 3, the light guide plate 6, and the back plate 7 are inserted between the respective holding units 22, as in the embodiment of FIGS. It is fixed. And it is provided so that the light from the said illumination part 4 may enter into the inner side from the edge of the light-guide plate 6, and this light may be permeate | transmitted to the display part 3. FIG.

The display unit 3 according to the present embodiment is formed in white to represent a frame-like display 3a and a graphic display 3d of the display unit 3 and a sheet-like lower layer 32, and is formed in blue to represent the background 3c of the display unit 3. A lower layer 32 and an upper layer 33 each having a sheet-like upper layer 33 and having translucency are arranged and provided in front of a base plate 31 formed in a plate shape, similarly to the configuration shown in FIG. It has been.
Further, similarly to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the upper layer 33 is formed with a notch-shaped window portion 36 that can be visually recognized from the rear side. The window 36 is formed in the shape of a frame display 3a and a graphic display 3d.
For the viewer viewing the display unit 3 from the front, the upper layer 33 is viewed as the blue background 3c, and the lower layer 32 viewed from the window unit 36 is viewed on the white frame display 3a and the graphic display 3d. The
As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 internally illuminated by the light from the illumination unit 4 is brightly viewed to enhance the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is viewed. It will be easier for people to recognize.

Further, in the lower layer 32 of the present embodiment, similarly to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the lower layer 32 is formed in a border shape along the edge of the window portion 36 and penetrates from the front surface to the rear surface of the lower layer 32. A cutout portion 37 is formed.
And the edge part of the display which the window part 36 represents of the display part 3 internally illuminated by the light from the illumination part 4 by providing the cutout part 37 in the lower layer 32 similarly to embodiment of FIGS. Becomes brighter and accentuated, enhancing the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is easily recognized by the viewer.

Further, the lower layer 32 is a sheet having translucency that transmits light irradiated from the rear to the front, and retroreflective with retroreflectivity that reflects the light irradiated from the front in parallel to the light source direction. By forming with a sheet, similarly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, when light from a headlight or the like of a vehicle traveling at night is irradiated on the display unit 3, the light transmitted through the upper layer 33 or the window unit The light that has passed through 36 is retroreflected by the lower layer 32, and this retroreflected light is visually recognized by the driver of the vehicle so that the display represented by the display unit 3 can be recognized.
In addition, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, in the light that is irradiated from the front and retroreflected, the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 is brightly viewed to increase the attractiveness, and the display represented by this is the viewer. It is made easy to be recognized.
In addition, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, in the light that is irradiated from the front and retroreflected, the edge portion of the display represented by the window portion 36 of the display unit 3 is seen darker and accentuated to enhance the attractiveness. The display represented by this is easily recognized by the viewer.

Moreover, although the internally illuminated marker 1 of embodiment shown to FIGS. 1-4 and FIG.5, 6 has provided the display part 3 only in the front side, the display part 3 is provided in both the front side and the back side. May be.
In addition, the internally illuminated sign 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6 has a frame line display 3a of the display unit 3 to represent a sign indicating the presence of a temporary stop place or a pedestrian crossing, Although the character display 3b and the graphic display 3d are provided, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display unit 3 may be provided to display all forms of display using lines, characters, numbers, graphics, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internal illumination type | mold label | marker 2 Frame part 21 Support part 22 Holding part 3 Display part 3a Frame line display 3b Character display 3c Background 3d Graphic display 31 Base plate 32 Lower layer 33 Upper layer 36 Window part 37 Cutout part 4 Illumination part 41 LED
42 Substrate 43 Holder 5 Power generation unit 51 Solar cell 52 Power storage unit 6 Light guide plate 61 Light diffuser 7 Back plate

Claims (3)

An internally illuminated sign comprising a translucent display unit and an illuminating unit, wherein light from the illuminating unit is transmitted from the rear to the front of the display unit and the display is displayed on the display unit. ,
The display unit includes a translucent lower layer and a translucent upper layer provided on the front side of the lower layer,
The upper layer is formed with a notch-like window portion that can be viewed from the rear side in a display shape so that the display of the display portion is represented,
An internally illuminated sign, wherein a cutout portion penetrating the lower layer is formed inside the window portion.   The internally illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein the lower layer is a retroreflective sheet having retroreflectivity of light.   The internally-illuminated mark according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutout portion is formed in an edge shape along the entire periphery of the window portion.

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