KR20040010868A - A Signboard Device By Rear Lighting - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A signboard by a rear illumination is provided to easily standardize each of the elements of the signboard, thereby reducing the manufacturing time and cost of the signboard. CONSTITUTION: A signboard(12) by a rear illumination includes an optical conductive sheet(9), an opaque reflective layer, a contour and a light reflective layer. The opaque reflective layer is formed on one side of the optical conductive sheet(9) and the light reflective layer is formed on the other side of the optical conductive sheet(9). The contour is formed on the opaque reflective layer for displaying the contents transmitted by the sense of sight. The light reflective layer has a shape similar to that of the contour, and the light beam generated from the light source is transmitted to the display light reflective layer through the light conductive material for forming the highlight portion by reflecting the light formed around the light reflective layer.

Description

Signage Device by Rear Lighting {A Signboard Device By Rear Lighting}

The present invention relates to a signboard for an illuminated signage device. The signboard according to the present invention includes a substrate made of a photoconductive material, and at least one side of the photoconductive substrate is provided with an opaque reflective layer or a coating layer. The integrity of the opaque reflective layer is broken by the contours that make up the message, art display, and other content and information that must be conveyed when the sign is illuminated. The opposite side on the substrate is formed of a light reflective material and has a corresponding contour. In addition, the signboard according to the present invention also receives the light from the light source, the electromagnetic radiation is controlled in the form of visible light from the light source to generate an aurora which makes the outline shape of the light formed around the signboard display visible.

A lighting signage device of this kind is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,009,019 (hereinafter referred to as "019 patent"). In the present invention, an aurora is formed around the contour of the contour to be transmitted according to the signage device. This aurora is made by a fluorescent material covering the entire opaque layer fracture of the signboard. The fluorescent material is cut out of the fluorescent plastic sheet into a contoured portion and adheres to the photoconductive substrate facing the surface with the opaque or applied layer broken in the contour. This break corresponds to the contour to be delivered. This contour made from fluorescent plastic may be cut out of the plastic sheet using, for example, a router. When the contour is attached to the substrate surface, the contour is raised from the substrate surface. This ridge is on the surface of the signboard of the invention, i.e. the surface facing the viewer when the signboard is used.

The light source is behind the sign, ie on the opposite side of the viewer. In the present invention, a more effective result can be obtained when the light source is ultraviolet light and the light rays pass through the opening of the opaque layer break through the substrate and go forward and then hit the fluorescent material to emit the fluorescent material.

An opaque reflective material layer is provided on the entire surface of the fluorescent material which faces the viewer. This opaque reflective material is preferably of a smaller dimension than the broken portion, whereby the light comes out only around the edge portion of the light reflective material and makes the contour shape of the transmitted contour visible. Therefore, some of the light from the emitted fluorescent material passes through the side end of the exposed fluorescent material, and the remaining light is reflected from the light reflection layer, passes through the fluorescent material again, passes through the photoconductive substrate, reaches the rear surface thereof, and the opaque reflective layer behind the substrate. Reach the front. The light is reflected in front of the viewer. This reflected light generates auroras around the contour shape.

For those who are looking at the signboard, the effect of this configuration is represented by the outlines and auroras that shine along the outlines of the characters, figures, or pictures.

The 019 patent was a significant improvement over the prior art at the time of filing. For example, Danish Patent Application No. 4729/87, published internationally on publication No. WO-A-89,02637 based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty on March 23, 1989, has a transparent surface broken in portions corresponding to letters or figures. Or a transparent or ultraviolet translucent plate or sheet coated according to an ultraviolet opaque layer or an application layer.

A groove is dug around the break of the transparent signboard so that the strip of fluorescent plastic material is filled in the groove. This procedure is very difficult and time consuming.

The invention of the 019 patent is an improvement over Burger's US Pat. No. 3,978,599. In this patent, the character part is raised in the direction away from the viewer and in the direction of the light source, so that the light rays are collected to increase the amount of light directly entering the viewer's eye, making the entire outline of the opaque layer broken part appear sharp. There is no light reflecting surface that covers this break opening, so the entirety of the text area, not the aurora, around the text area is visible.

The invention of the 019 patent is also an improvement on the signboard disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,071,239 to Spencer et al. In this patent, excavation (preferably by sandblasting) forms shapes, letters or inscriptions on solid glass. As a result, shapes, letters, etc., are reliably raised on the temporal surface ground by sand blasting, forming a lenticular lens state of translucent or transparent material, which is clearly raised behind the contrasting background. It is thought that a certain effect occurs because the ambient light reflects different types from different surfaces.

The invention of the 019 patent is also an improvement over Schenkel U.S. Patent No. 1,887,523. The Henkel patent uses an opaque (black) layer. Black blocks light but does not reflect it. The Schenkel patent shows a way to block light to create depth and shadowing effects such as block letters and gas enclosures. This patent does not disclose or suggest the use of reflective surfaces to guide light in order to enhance the effect and form an aurora around the contour shape of the indication to be delivered.

In contrast to these patented devices, the structure disclosed in the 019 patent is easier and cheaper to manufacture, resulting in an effect not seen in other devices. The structure of the 019 patent makes it possible to create a strong contour shape with an aurora around the indication to be delivered. In particular, this effect is excellent when the raised fluorescent material side edge part coincides with and overlaps with the contour of the rear part of the substrate at the front side of the substrate so that the side edge part is inclined with respect to the front surface of the signboard. The desired angle of the beveled edge is about 120 to 150 degrees with respect to the front of the signboard.

According to the 019 patent, letters, figures or pictures are particularly vivid when a color layer is added to the front light reflection layer, especially when this color is different from the remaining color of the signboard. As such, in a preferred embodiment of the patent, an opaque layer is provided on the substrate, i.e., the back of the photoconductive plate, but the color layer is first provided between the back of the photoconductive plate and the front of the opaque layer. This structure makes it possible to see the color from the front through the photoconductive plate and gives the signboard its basic color. In the present invention, the opaque layer may be made of a light reflective material, or at least includes a light reflective layer on the back side, and reflects light from a light source so that the total amount of light emitted from the sign can be increased when the sign is used.

Experiments with the 019 patent device revealed that there are several factors that need to be improved. For example, the light source is preferably ultraviolet (black) light. Therefore, the signboard device manufactured according to the patent is particularly effective when the amount of light is small or when the surroundings are dark. It is low in luminosity and aurora is inconspicuous in room and midday light. Contouring desired plastics with routers is a labor-intensive and relatively time-consuming process, including preparatory steps before and after the use of the router, affecting the ability to quickly create sample geometries at low cost. In the automatic process, it is possible to reduce the processing cost per piece by price cutting and molding or casting, but attaching the fluorescent material to the signboard must be done by hand and requires accurate and skilled manual work.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a signboard having a structure that is more productive, more flexible, inexpensive, and has higher illumination. These signs can be used not only in dark places but also in daylight, making them more marketable. The space required for the entire installation of the signboard device box is also a problem. In order to use most effectively in the 019 patent, it is preferable to install the light source at a distance from the back side of the signboard and at a distance from the opaque layer. In this way, more light rays can pass through the opening of the broken portion of the opaque layer, pass through the thickness of the substrate, and reach the fluorescent plastic inside the substrate to emit light. The spacing between the light source and the signboard is of course limited to the minimum thickness or depth of the physical structure of the signboard box that receives the signboard and the light source.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a signage device which is low in production cost, high in illumination, smaller in overall size of the signage device, more flexible in both structure and contents, and which can use materials and methods available in manufacturing. To provide.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are described below.

1 is a perspective view of a signboard according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the signboard according to the prior art cut by the line 2-2 of FIG.

3 is a perspective view of a signboard according to the present invention;

4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the signboard of the present invention cut by line 4-4 of FIG.

5 is a partially enlarged view of a portion of the signage of FIGS. 3 and 4, showing the possible detailed structure of the opaque light reflecting layer 11 and showing the respective parts to show the constituent layers.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of the signboard of FIG. 3, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the signboard of the present invention cut by line 7-7 of FIG.

8 is a top plan view of a rear layout panel and a corresponding front overlay panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an exploded sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 in assembling the signboard;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 8 after assembling the signboard.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2: cutting line (for FIG. 2), 4: cutting line (for FIG. 4)

7: cutting line (for Fig. 7), 9: photoconductive plate

10: front reflective layer 10a: front reflective layer 2

11: rear opaque reflective layer 12: sign

13: broken portion, 14: front of the sign

15: ridge, 16: back of the sign

17: inclined side edge portion, 18: arbitrary paint

19: light reflection layer, 20: core portion

21: colored layer, 22: light absorbing layer

23: base colored layer, 27: basic adhesive layer

29: light opaque layer, 31: additional reflective layer

33: rear film, 35: all film

37: bracket

The signboard apparatus of the present invention includes the following, which is used in a signboard apparatus having a display constituting the contents delivered by time and having a light source for illuminating the display.

(1) a sheet of photoconductive material.

(2) An opaque light reflection layer formed on one side of the sheet.

(3) An outline formed on the opaque light reflection layer by a portion that breaks the integrity of the light reflection layer, and constitutes the display of the transmission contents with time.

(4) The light reflection layer which has the following structure provided on the said sheet on the opposite side to the side which has the said outline.

(a) the light reflection layer is generally identical in shape and overlapping with the contour as a whole, (b) projecting light generated by the light source through the display and the photoconductive material, and (c) at least one of the projection light A substantial portion touches the display light reflection layer, and (d) the light reflection layer reflects light around the formed display to form a highlight portion.

[Claim 2] The signboard according to claim 1, further comprising an opaque light absorbing layer that absorbs light of a specific band formed adjacent to the opaque light reflecting layer.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of the prior art displays a signboard comprising a photoconductive plate 9. This plate forms the basic structure of the signboard. The photoconductive plate 9 may be made of ultraviolet conductive acrylic plastic. This plate is provided with an opaque reflective layer 11 on one side thereof. The upper surface shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the front or front surface of the signboard, which is visible to humans even when the signboard is attached to a box or other suitable structure such as a light source and illuminated. In FIG. 2, the opaque layer 11 is a photoconductive plate. Attached to the back of the 9, the back.

The word <TEXT> on the front surface of the photoconductive plate 9 of FIG. 1 is a word that represents a display transmitted by time when the signboard is installed and illuminated on the completed signboard device. This information or delivery indication includes, in addition to characters, a figure decoration inscription and the like. Details of what constitutes an indication to be delivered include the fractured portion 13 of the complete opaque layer 11. The break portion forms a contour constituting an indication to be delivered. A ridge 15 is provided which overlaps with the contour of the broken portion to form a depression on the entire surface of the plate 9.

The ridge 15 is preferably made of a fluorescent material such as, for example, a fluorescent acrylic plastic. The ridge 15 may be attached by co-polymerizing with the fractured portion 13 in a suitable manner, for example by adhering to the front surface of the plate 9 with an acrylic adhesive.

This raised portion 15 has an inclined side edge portion 17 and the width of the bottom portion of the raised portion 15 is preferably slightly larger than the width of the broken portion 13 of the reflective layer 11. The ridge 15 has a contour that matches the contour of the break 13. Thus, by the slightly larger width, the contour of the fracture portion 13 can be completely covered by the contour of the ridge 15. When light hits the rear part of the plate 9, the light passes through the break 13 of the opaque layer 11 and the thickness of the substrate 9 to emit the fluorescent material of the ridge 15. The light reflection layer 19 is provided in the front part of the ridge part 15 (namely, the surface facing a viewer). This layer 19 may be an opaque ink applied by a suitable method or may be a foil. The color layer 21 is provided in front of the light reflection layer 19.

At the back of the sign 9, there is a color layer 23 sandwiched between the back of the sign 9 and the reflective layer 11, which passes through the transparent part of the sign 9 to determine the base color of the sign. The front color layer 21 can be selected in harmony with the basic color layer 23.

When the sign 9 is hit by a light source (not shown) behind it (downward in FIGS. 1 and 2), preferably ultraviolet light, part of the light beam is reflected directly from the rear reflective layer 11 of the sign 9. The other ultraviolet light passes through the transparent plate 9 through the broken portion 13 of the reflective layer 11 and then through the ridge 15 to emit the fluorescent material to shine. Some of the light rays generated by the light emission of the fluorescent material disappear through the inclined side edge portion 17. When viewed from the front, the contour shape of the display contour to be transmitted is clearly illuminated. In this way the center of the contour is dark due to the opacity of the material and only the contour shape or border portion of the contour is illuminated.

Other ultraviolet light generated by the light emission of the fluorescent material is reflected by the reflective layer 19 and hits the front surface of the reflective layer 11 to be reflected inside the signboard. These rays appear as auroras around the contours that form the mark that is intended to illuminate and convey the colored base layer 23. If the opaque layer 11 is installed at the rear of the plate 9 towards the front of the plate, the aurora effect is further enhanced. Therefore, as a whole, the structure shown in the drawings is preferable. Layer 11 preferably has both action of opacity and reflection

As described above, the contour of the fluorescent material may be cut by price grinding or by molding casting or router in an automatic process. Using a router makes it easy to adjust the angle to the side surface 17. Creating the necessary outline and attaching it as a ridge on the front of the signage is an improvement over the prior art described above, but it increases the illumination of the signage, reducing the production cost, making the entire signage device smaller, and giving greater flexibility in signage production. In order to give a higher possibility of creation by the delivery indication, it was found that it is desirable to add the 019 patent signage structure and the improvement of the manufacturing method.

In accordance with this desire, Figures 3 and 4, which are embodiments of the present invention, like the 019 patent, have an aurora around letters, figures, and shapes and generate a glowing outline. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the fluorescent plastic material is raised in the 019 patent, whereas both sides of the sign 12 are almost flat. In addition, the light diffusing layer, which is a fluorescent material or at least contains a fluorescent material, needs to raise the fluorescent material on the front surface in the 019 patent, whereas in this embodiment, only a thin layer is applied or applied to the back of the sign 12.

As described below, in the present invention, the concept of guiding light rays by reflection can be more effectively used to remove, increase, or change colors, thereby providing greater creativity in designing and using signboards.

3 and 4, a preferred embodiment of the sign 12 of the present invention includes a photoconductive plate 9, which is the basic structure of the sign. The photoconductive plate 9 can be made of a sheet of photoconductive material such as transparent plastic or glass. An example of such a plastic material is a sheet of solid resin material sold under the trademark Plexiglass of the Rohm and Haas Company. However, there are many other suitable materials for this purpose and so are not limited to the above examples. The photoconductive plate 9 is provided with an opaque layer 11 on one side thereof.

The upper surface shown in FIG. 3 is the front surface 14 of the sign 12. Since the sign device is transparent, it becomes a front toward the viewer when installed in a box or other suitable structure (not shown) with a light source. In FIG. 4, the opaque reflective layer 11 is attached to the rear surface of the photoconductive plate 9, that is, the background 16. FIG.

As the word DISPLAY and any shape 18 appear on the front surface 14 of the photoconductive plate 9 of Fig. 3, representative of information or indications to be visually conveyed when the entire signage device including these signs is installed and illuminated. It is shown. In addition to the transmission marks described above, they also include figures, decorations, and inscriptions.

The details constituting the indication to be transmitted include a fracture portion 13 breaking the integrity of the opaque reflective layer 11. The broken portion outlines the information or indication to be conveyed. The opaque layer 11 and the break portion 13 are preferably provided on the back side 16 of the photoconductive plate 9.

A very important aspect of the present invention is that it is possible to control and guide the light beam to achieve a specific three dimensional color effect with minimal material. For example, instead of attaching additional material to the surface of the photoconductive plate 9, the thickness of the plate itself can be used to create an optical illusion inside the plate. Here's how to control and guide the rays to create this effect.

Another front reflective layer 10 is provided which overlaps with the fracture portion 13 as a whole and is at least a reflective layer on the front side, i.e., the front surface 14, with a contour corresponding to the contour of the fracture portion 13.

Thus, for example, if the broken portion is the character DISPLAY, the outline of the reflective layer 10 on the front surface 14 on the side shown on the plate is also the character DISPLAY. As it is assumed, the opaque reflective layer 11 has both properties of opacity and reflection. These properties are obtained by using printing inks, silk screen coatings, foils and the like. One example of a material that can be used is a polyvinyl chloride adhesive foil commercially available in various colors. Thus, the foil is already colored, reflective, and at least one side of which is coated with an adhesive with a material color. Such foils are useful in terms of reflectivity and color, but may be inappropriate in terms of opacity. Thus, if opacity is also required, a layer that does not transmit light, such as a dark paint or ink, can be applied to the non-adhesive side of the foil. The bilayer is opaque, but the dark layer is not necessarily reflective.

The reflective surface is not necessary on the backside of the back layer 11 of the plate, but if necessary it is possible to place an additional reflective layer on top of the light impermeable layer.

An example of a constituent layer constituting the opaque reflective layer 11 is shown in FIG. In the figure, the basic adhesive layer (the adhesive side is shown below) is shown as 27, the light impermeable layer is 29, and the additional reflective layer is denoted as 31.

For example, it is assumed that a print design is preferable for the sign 12 as shown in FIG. 3. White was chosen as the background and white polyvinyl chloride adhesive foil was selected. In the market, foils are generally sold in rolls, and the adhesive side is covered with a release paper (not shown). Release paper can be removed when the foil is attached to the surface of the photoconductive plate.

Next, the light impermeable layer 29 is attached to the surface foil 27 facing the adhesive / release paper. If an additional reflective layer 31 is to be attached, it is attached over the light impermeable layer 29. While the release paper is still covering the adhesive surface, the chair and letters are cut from the sheet by well-known methods such as computer-controlled plotters to form the contour of the desired fractured part of the message or the chair on foil 27. Remove and remove the part to be removed without attaching it to the photoconductive plate. That is, the application tape is attached on the remaining material surrounding the contour. The adhesive on the application tape is a bit more powerful than the adhesive on the release paper, leaving the remaining material on the application tape and leaving the contour openings intact. The plotter accurately cuts the material to the release paper covering the adhesive layer but does not cut the release paper. In this way, the application tape can remove only the remaining portion of the contour from the release paper and expose the adhesive layer of the remaining portion to directly attach it to the back side 16 of the photoconductive plate 9.

The remaining application tape is then pressed against the back side of the photoconductive plate 9 with the adhesive side aligned with the back side 16 so that the remaining part is transferred to the plate 9. The adhesive force of the plate is stronger than the adhesive force of the application tape so that the application tape can be removed from the remaining portion. The position of the contour opening in the integrity of the opaque reflective layer 11 is thus determined on the back side of the photoconductive plate 9 and subsequently used to complete the signboard in a way that controls the light beam to achieve the purpose for any signage device. A base or reference base is formed for each reflective layer.

This reverse operation is performed to attach the front reflective layer 10 to the front surface 14 of the photoconductive plate 9. The contour for the front reflective layer 10 is cut out by the same computer controlled plotter, for example.

In this case, anything other than the contour for delivery is first peeled off and removed from the release paper, and another application tape is peeled off and carefully adhered to the contour to remove it from the release paper. The entire contour is left intact by the application tape, and the application tape is used to position and attach the top contour on the front side 14 in overlapping fashion with the next contour almost coinciding with the fractured part 13 opened on the back side 16 of the photoconductive plate 9 on the front side 14. do

These front and back contours can be attached by known printing processes and known silkscreen processes. The printing process is particularly convenient for mass production and is particularly advantageous for the production of mass signage, which is the same message and design. The cut foil method is more widely used and useful for the production of samples and small quantities.

The light absorbing layer 22 is then attached to the exposed plate surface inside the broken portion 13 of the contour on the back 16 of the photoconductive plate 9. The first purpose of the light absorption layer 22 is to absorb a specific band of light emitted from the light source and color the light emitted from the front side of the signboard. The light absorbing layer 22 may be paint, printing ink, colored light selective transmission film or colored plastic or colored glass.

Layers 10, 11, 21 and 22 of FIGS. 4 and 7 are enlarged in cross section for illustrative purposes. Thus, the drawing of this layer does not represent a comparative thickness of the layer. Indeed, the thickness of the layer is merely an enlargement of the cross section for ease of explanation in the degree of film or drawings.

Unlike the conventional apparatus of FIG. 2 in which the fluorescent material is a relatively thick ridge 15 attached to the surface 14 of the signboard, the light absorbing layer 22 of the present invention is attached to directly cover the break 13 on the back 16 of the plate.

In this regard, the light source may be any kind of incandescent fluorescent light-emitting ultraviolet light-emitting diode (LED: rectifier semiconductor device that converts electrical energy into electron irradiation) and electroluminescence (being an electric field on a solid material such as a fluorescent plastic plate). It may be light. In the case of electric luminescence, if it is the electrically induced emission material combined with the fluorescent sheet, it can also be used as a light source itself as a light source. When a combination of desired color neons is used, even when the light absorption layer 22 is eliminated, a good lighting effect is achieved. However, due to the sensitivity of neon and the need for maintenance, this method is generally avoided.

When the plate 9 is fitted with a light source (not shown), preferably a light source lying facing the back 16 of the sign 12, the light beam strikes the light absorbing layer 22 and emits it directly. Any of these layers usually cover only 13 fractures. The glow of the light absorbing layer which directly covers the broken portion 13 of the reflective layer 11 then passes through the transparent plate 9. Part of this ray is visible to the viewer along the edge of the front side reflective layer 10 and shows the contour of the contour.

Regarding this contour shape, according to the present invention, the front reflective layer 10 is an opaque reflective layer or a reflective layer. In any case, part of the light at the back surface 16 is reflected back from the reflective surface of the front reflective layer 10 to the opaque reflective layer 11 to form an aurora around the shape of the contour that proceeds therein. The difference in whether or not opacity is included in the front reflective layer 10 is in the appearance of the core portion 20. In the case of the opacity in which the front reflective layer 10 includes the light transmissive layer 29, the contour core portion 20 is irradiated only by the front light rays from the surroundings, and the color of the core portion 20 is the front reflective layer 10 (may be the front chromatic layer 21). The color of the front surface.

On the other hand, if the front reflective layer 10 is subtracted from the light impermeable layer 29, some of the light from the rear side may be affected by the core portion 20, and then illuminated to some extent so that the core portion contains fluorescent materials (described below). Irradiate with light from the fluorescent material of the reflective layer 10. Since the front reflection layer 10 is reflective and reflects light, the intensity of the irradiated core portion is low compared to the direct light reaching the viewer from the rear by turning the edge of the core portion 20 side. In this way, the outline shape of the outline is displayed. But the contrast between it and the core part is weak compared to the case where the core part is opaque.

The front reflection layer 10 can also be a fluorescent layer that fluoresces by the light to fluoresce the core portion 20, as if reflecting light from the layer 22. Depending on the color chosen, interesting color combinations are possible. For example, if the rear light absorbing layer 22 is blue, the front reflecting layer 10 is located, and the front fluorescent layer is red, the core portion 20 shows a mixture of blue and red with a blue outline. If the front layer is yellow and white, the white core has a white outline and a yellow core part is visible. In this example alone, it is also affected by the base color determined by the color of layer 11.

The color to achieve a particular effect is selected by the desired combination of opaque reflective layer 11, light absorbing layer 22, front reflective layer 10, and additional front colored layer 21. In this regard, it is known that the color of light encounters the color of other light so that the color may appear to be dying, augmented or changed depending on the choice of color and intensity. This technique can be effectively used in the structure of the present invention.

Another important aspect of the present invention is that it is possible to use a variety of color base in a way that is not considered conventionally used. When the light absorbing layer 22 is used, the color gradually changes depending on the layer. For example, a fluorescent blue of any length is used to add a fluorescent red of any length from the middle of the blue to investigate a half-blue and half-exposed milky white material. This changes the color from blue to purple to purple to red even if there is no exact dividing line between the colors along the entire band of the fluorescent layer. It is also possible to add other colors as desired. The overall effect on the signboard is that the contour shape and the color of the aurora change according to the position. In this way, color change can be used regardless of the number of signs on the signboard.

The angle of the imaginary line connecting the green part of the layer 11 with a point corresponding to the green part of the front reflective layer 10 of the front face 14 at the point where it is in contact with the green color of the broken part 13 is shown at the inclined side edge part 17 of the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. Form a significant hallucination. This angle can be increased or reduced by reducing or enlarging the size corresponding to the contour of the front reflective layer 10. This hallucination can be achieved without the physical presence of ridges 15 on the front face 14 of plate 12 of the prior art device.

The thickness of the psychedelic feeling on the inclined side edge can be adjusted between 0.0 mm and 20 mm depending on the thickness of the material selected by the photoconductive substrate 9. It is also possible to provide a front colored layer 21 on the front surface of the front reflective layer 10. If desired, the colored layer 21 can be selected in harmony with the background color of the opaque reflective layer 11, that is, the base color of the signboard.

Characters, figures, or figures on the front side correspond to the contours of the fractures on the back side. According to the invention it is possible to make the contour of the front face somewhat smaller, equal or larger in size than the contour of the back face. The light rays propagating through the fracture portion of the light source are intentionally larger than the size of the rear contour, and form a contour shape around the front contour, unless it covers the shape of the contour even if it is not aurora. However, the psychedelic and three-dimensional feelings of the inclined side edge are most effective when the size of the front side is not larger than the size of the back outline but is small enough.

Many of the color effects used to achieve the specific purpose of a particular signage device in parallel with the hallucinations of the inclined edges and the depth of the aurora, i.e. three-dimensional, can be achieved by adjusting several factors described below. Considering these factors, it is possible to select the size of the front contour and cut out the contour for the front reflective layer 10 from the other sheet by the method already described.

Besides the illusion of the inclined edge portion of the present invention corresponding to the physically inclined edge portion 17 of the prior art device shown in FIG. 2, there is a depth effect or a three-dimensional effect as if the viewer of the signboard is seen up to the [inside] of the photoconductive substrate 9. . As already mentioned, this substrate is best made of transparent plastic. When looking at the milky white layer through the transparent plastic, the object is barely visible. This is good when considering the nature of the three-dimensional effect.

The object or layer on the back of the photoconductive plate 9 is clearly seen as seen through transparent plastic. On the other hand, the distance between the rear reflection layer 11 and the front reflection layer 10 can be recognized even if it is not directly connected between them. In this way, the mixed colors appear in a space resembling aurora. This color appears to be inside the plate itself. The back light absorbing layer 22 encounters the reflected light from the front reflecting layer 10, particularly when the front reflecting layer 10 is a fluorescent layer, as described above, to generate an interesting three-dimensional effect. Therefore, if you want a mysterious depth effect, the light absorption layer 22 may be used as a fluorescent color.

Another interesting effect can be achieved by matching the front contour positionally with the rear contour contour break. Twist the two outlines a little laterally or obliquely to make the outline of each letter a fraction. For example, the left side of a character may be given only aurora without an outline shape, and the right side may have two functions, an outline shape and an aurora. When cutting out both contours, the contour shape can be made larger by appropriately selecting their relative sizes at first.

The flexibility of the present invention is advantageous in that it does not require a physically existing three-dimensional object as described herein, and it is possible to produce a high quality three-dimensional effect in the plate by a relatively inexpensive method and material. The viewer will actually want to touch the three-dimensional surface by hand rather than a flat surface, and cannot see the distance between the light sources.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The principles already described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4 also apply in this embodiment. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the scope of use of this principle becomes wider. For example, in this embodiment, it is possible to display and convey an artistic design as mentioned above, and at the same time, display a layer of text conveying a message on or beside the artistic design or vice versa. In fact, it is possible to reverse this relationship at one point with one in the foreground and the other with the background. This is reproduced by forming [contours and auroras] within or on or beside the other [contours with aurora function].

Examples illustrate this flexibility. Referring to FIG. 7, when the back surface 17 of the sign 12 is exposed to a light source (not shown), light rays are diffused by the front reflection layer 10 through the break portion 13 so as to uniformly shine them. The light absorbing layer 22 more preferably contains fluorescent color. Some of the light rays generated by the light emission of the fluorescent material travel forward toward the viewer in the region between the spatially inclined opaque reflective layer 11 and the totally opposite side edges of the reflective front reflective layers 10 and 10a. As described above, the light traveling between these opposing edges forms a contour shape.

The fact that the light beams reflect at all the reflecting layers 10 and 10a causes a part of the light beams to be reflected back to the layers 10 and 11 at the front reflecting layer 10a in front of it and proceeds to the viewer there ahead. Light rays reflected at the front portion of the opaque reflective layer 10 provide an aura around the contour formed at the edge of 10a. As described above, there is another contour shape around the outer edge of the front reflective layer 10 with the aurora due to reflection from the front portion of the layer 11. This results in the contour shape with the auroras being cut out to the side or in another contour shape with the auroras.

As mentioned above, when the colored layer 21 is attached to the front surface of the front opaque reflective layer 10a, the colors of layers 11, 10 and 10a are added to create a special color effect. Opaque reflectors also have useful colors by themselves, but you will find interesting effects as the colors are mixed in the various layers. Furthermore, the front part of any reflective layer (as well as 10a) can include colored layer 21 and it is possible to construct a multicolored layer for obtaining the desired color effect. If the color of the colored layer 21 is different from the color of the light absorbing layer 22, the color of the aurora will appear different from the color of the contour formed by the light rays directed toward the viewer in the fluorescent layer.

And as already mentioned, the light absorbing layer 22 changes along its surface to increase its interest. Hence, it is known that color light meets other color light directly to offset, enhance, or change the resulting color. This embodiment provides a perfect stage for implementing this usage of color. Thus, it can be seen that this configuration enables a large number of new creations.

Furthermore, another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10. In the signboard apparatus, whether the signboard effect is the same as or in the same manner as the above-described embodiment, flexibility in using the signboard apparatus of the present invention by the signboard configuration is further increased. Instead of attaching an opaque light reflecting layer directly to the back side 16 of the photoconductive plate 9, letters, figures, art designs, etc., are directly applied to a transparent thin plastic foil or film having a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, for example. To print. Printing costs are reduced by using standard printing techniques using standard forms, text and graphics rather than silkscreen and other special or special ordering methods. One example of the use of such a signage device is when the situation changes frequently and must be converted according to the delivery and the situation. The frequency of these changes can range from one or two days to several hours. A concrete example is when a restaurant advertises the menu and meal of the day.

The back foil or film 33 shown in Fig. 8 is printed with an opaque, reflective color ink and the transfer contour remains at break 13 through which the light beam passes.

The front foil or the film 35 overlaps with the film 33 to form a contour for delivery. The front foil 35 has an opaque transmission contour on a transparent background. As shown in Fig. 9, a plurality of layers including films 33 and 35 are overlapped to form sandwiches of each layer, and in the aforementioned embodiment, the layers can be separated from each other in the sandwich state unlike the pasting of each layer. Maintain the integrity of the layer.

The sandwich state in this embodiment includes the light absorption layer 22 and the two photoconductive plates 9 already described. The printed films 33 and 35 are placed between the layers constituting the sandwich. The rear film 33 is placed between the layer 22 and the rearmost photoconductive plate 9 and the front film 35 is placed between the rearmost photoconductive plate 9 and the front photoconductive plate 9. All layers are aligned, but care must be taken with the interposition of films 33 and 35.

In the above-described embodiment, the front printed part 35 and the rear printed film 33 have a narrower contour than the corresponding contour. When layer 22 emits light by a light source (not shown) due to this size difference, the light beam is emitted from the direct layer 22 and passes through the photoconductive plate 9 to reach the viewer, and forms a contour around the contour. The film is thus positioned by the two contours being entirely coincident and overlapping. However, for other embodiments, as described above, the contours of the upper and lower sides are staggered from each other, that is, the inclined in the transverse direction, thereby achieving an interesting contouring effect.

After positioning and finishing the arrangement, each layer is secured using the appropriate means represented by bracket 37 and maintains the sandwich relationship. The sandwich signboard is placed in the signboard box (not shown), and the lighting signboard device together with the light source is completed. According to this configuration, since the signboard components are separate, the contents of delivery can be easily changed.

9 and 10, the widths of the layers of FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged only for convenience of description and description, and thus the drawings of the layers do not indicate comparative thicknesses. In addition, as in the case of the previous embodiment, in this figure, the rear side (the side where the light source is installed) of the signboard is on the right.

The principle of the signboard disclosed above has an application example in which there are many differences depending on the creativity of the person using the principle. For example, in addition to using these principles in artistic display, information diffusion, advertising, or a combination thereof, these principles can also be applied to other uses, such as clock faces, stereoscopic maps, and the earth.

There are many advantages of the invention disclosed herein. The structure makes it easy to standardize each signboard part. In addition, the illumination intensity is increased, it can be used more effectively in the environment of natural light. The labor time of signboard manufacturing is shortened, the sample is assembled quickly, and the change is easy. It can be used in any kind of light source, and it is possible to place the light source in close proximity to the back of the signboard, so that the volume of the entire signage device (box, sign and light source) can be made very thin. The concept of guiding light sources allows greater creativity and flexibility in the manufacture and use of signs, and generally requires less material.

Although only preferred embodiments or modifications of the present invention have been described, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the form and details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (19)

A signboard comprising the following, which is used in a signboard device having an indication constituting the delivery contents by time and having a light source for illuminating the indication. (1) a sheet of photoconductive material. (2) An opaque light reflection layer formed on one side of the sheet. (3) An outline formed on the opaque light reflection layer by a portion that breaks the integrity of the light reflection layer, and constitutes the display of the transmission contents with time. (4) The light reflection layer which has the following structure provided on the said sheet on the opposite side to the side which has the said outline. (a) the light reflection layer is generally identical in shape and overlapping with the contour as a whole, (b) projecting light generated by the light source through the display and the photoconductive material, and (c) at least one of the projection light A substantial portion touches the display light reflection layer, and (d) the light reflection layer reflects light around the formed display to form a highlight portion. The signboard of claim 1, further comprising an opaque light absorbing layer that absorbs light of a specific band formed adjacent to the opaque light reflecting layer. The signboard according to claim 1, wherein the opaque light reflection layer comprises a foil of polyvinyl chloride having an adhesive layer on one side thereof. 4. The signboard of claim 3 comprising a light impermeable layer on the non-adhesive side of the polyvinyl chloride foil. The signboard according to claim 4, wherein the polyvinyl chloride foil having light impermeability also includes a light reflecting layer adjacent to the light impermeable layer on the non-foil side of the foil. The signboard of claim 1, wherein the photoconductive material is a transparent plastic. The signboard of claim 1, wherein the photoconductive material is glass. The signboard of claim 1, wherein said reflective side light reflecting layer of said sheet comprises a light opaque material for imparting more opacity. 2. The display edge according to claim 1, wherein the light reflecting layer of the display form is smaller than the size corresponding to the contour formed on the opaque light reflecting layer, whereby a highlight around the display formed on the reflecting layer passes directly through the light opening to display edges. A signboard comprising a clear contour shape of the display formed by the exposed light passing through the part and an aurora around the contour shape by the reflected light. 2. The display according to claim 1, wherein the light reflecting layer of the display form has a size equal to the size corresponding to the contour formed on the opaque light reflecting layer, and the highlight portion around the display formed on the reflecting layer is viewed from a position immediately before the display formed on the light reflecting layer. Signboard comprising an aurora emerging from the surrounding ambient light of the indication. The light reflection layer of the display form has a size larger than a size corresponding to the contour formed on the opaque light reflection layer, and a highlight portion around the display formed on the reflective layer is directly in front of the display formed on the light reflection layer. In this case, the auroline signage coming out of the reflected light around the display. The signboard which has the indication which comprises the content conveyed by time, and is used for the signboard apparatus which has the light source which illuminates the indication, The signboard containing the following. (1) Photoconductive means for constituting the basic structure of the signboard and conducting light from the light source when assembled to the signboard device having the light source. (2) When assembled, an opaque reflective layer formed on one surface facing each other with the light source of the photoconductive means. (3) The light opening portion of the display shape formed in the opaque reflective layer and passing light from a light source through the opaque layer when assembled. (4) The light reflection layer of the display form which is formed in the side which is far from the said light source of the said photoconductive means, when it is assembled, overlaps with the said optical opening part as a whole, and has the following structure. (a) The light reflecting layer in the form of a display is a core portion where light from a light source passes around it, then through the light openings, and then through the photoconductive means, a visual contour shape of light around the display. Forming. (b) retroreflects light from the core portion and the installed surface back to the opaque reflective layer, from which light is reflected back away from the light source to form an aurora around the contour of the light. A signboard comprising a signboard device having a light source for illuminating the sign having a mark constituting the transmission content, the signboard including: (1) A plurality of sheets of photoconductive material having the following constitution. (a) This sheet has a parallel sandwich shape when attached to the signboard, (b) The outer side of the plurality of sheets facing the light source when assembled is the sandwich rear end, and (c) when assembled On the other side, the outside of the plural sheets facing the viewer is the sandwich front. (2) An opaque light reflection layer formed on at least the rear surface of the rear sheet facing the light source when assembled to the signboard apparatus. (3) The outline by the part which breaks the completeness of each layer formed in the said opaque light reflection layer which comprises the said display. (4) The light reflection layer of the following structure provided in the front surface of the light reflection layer and the sandwich sheet which were provided between the said multiple sheets and the adjacent sheet | seat. (a) Contours are formed in each light reflection layer, and (b) the entire combination of the contours overlaps with the contours formed in the opaque light reflection layer on the back sheet rear surface in the same shape. 14. The signboard of claim 13, comprising a bracket to detachably fix each neighboring layer of the sandwich of said plurality of sheets of photoconductive material to attach to the signboard device. There is an indication that constitutes the contents delivered by time, and the signage is used in a signage device having a light source for illuminating the indication, the signage comprising a plurality of layers, which layers are necessary for making and changing the signage. Is a signboard that can be assembled and separated and assembled at any time in a sandwich shape. (1) A first layer made of a photoconductive material. (2) An opaque reflective material layer for mounting on one side of the first layer made of the photoconductive material. (3) An outline formed in the opaque reflective material layer by a photo-opening portion and forming the display. (4) A first layer of light reflection material having the following configuration formed on the surface of the first photoconductive material facing the layer of opaque reflective material. (a) the first layer of light reflecting material has at least a band shape, (b) the band shape generally coincides with the contour shape of the contour, and (c) the central gap of the contour shape remains open. . (5) A second layer made of a photoconductive material parallel to the first layer made of a photoconductive material and formed adjacent to the first layer made of a light reflective material. (6) A second layer of light reflective material having the following configuration, which is provided on the side facing the first light reflective material first layer of the second layer made of the photoconductive material, facing the. (a) the second layer made of the light reflective material is generally the same shape as the opening gap of the central portion of the contour shape formed in the form of a strip of the first layer made of the reflective material, and (b) also coincides and overlaps with the whole. being. (7) Bracket means for detachably supporting the entire layer in a sandwich state for further attachment to a signboard device having a light source. A signboard manufacturing method for use in a signboard apparatus having a visual indication of delivery and a light source for illuminating the transmission indication, the method comprising each of the following steps. (1) preparing a sheet of photoconductive material. (2) preparing a sheet of opaque reflective material (3) The step of manufacturing the outline constituting the visual transmission display. (4) forming a contour as an opening in the opaque reflective material sheet. (5) adhering the sheet of opaque reflective material having the contour formed as an opening to the cross section of the photoconductive material sheet. (6) the contour formed from the sheet of light reflective material overlaps on the opposite side to the side having the sheet made of the opaque reflective material of the photoconductive material sheet and as a whole coincides with the contour formed as the opaque reflective material sheet opening; To bond. A signboard for use in a signboard device having a display constituting the contents delivered by time and having a light source for illuminating each display, the signboard comprising the following. (1) Photoconductive means having two opposing flat surfaces and forming the basic structure of the signboard. (2) An opaque reflective layer formed on one of two surfaces which are said photoconductive means. (3) Openings formed in the opaque reflective layer and forming a display. (4) The light reflecting means of the below structure of the display form provided in the opposing side of both sides of the said photoconductive means, and being formed so that it may match with the said optical opening part whole. (a) generating light in the presence of a light source, (b) projecting light through the light openings and the photoconductive means, and (c) a substantial portion of the light hits the light reflecting means such that each light reflecting means Reflects light around the formed display to form highlights. 18. The reflection according to claim 17, wherein the opaque layer optical opening that forms a display on one surface of the photoconductive means is larger than the display formed on the light reflecting means disposed to be generally coincident with the other surface of the photoconductive means. A signboard comprising a clear contour shape of a sign formed by means of light through the display edge part directly through the photo-opening part and a highlight part around the sign formed in the means, and a signboard around the contour shape from the reflected light. 18. The display device according to claim 17, wherein the light opening portion forming a mark on the opaque layer on one side of the photoconductive means is smaller than a mark formed on the light reflecting means disposed generally coincident with the other face of the photoconductive means. An o-line signboard from the reflected light surrounding the display, when the highlight surrounding the display formed on the reflecting means is viewed from the front direction of the display formed on the light reflecting means.