WO1998024087A1

WO1998024087A1 - Illuminated sign

Info

Publication number: WO1998024087A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/003299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Howard
Original assignee: Principle Systems Limited
Priority date: 1996-11-29
Filing date: 1997-12-01
Publication date: 1998-06-04
Also published as: EP0941535A1; GB2319877B; GB2319877A; GB9624872D0

Abstract

An illuminated sign is mounted on a wall, the sign part being mounted on a framework and the lamp is arranged so that the sign is lit substantially uniformly across its face.

Description

ILLUMINATED SIGN

The invention relates to an illuminated sign, for interior or exterior use. Such signs usually comprise a body having a sign face, which is illuminated by a lamp spaced in front of the sign or behind the sign. It is one object of this invention to provide an illuminated sign which is particularly economical to assemble and operate and which is aesthetically pleasing.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided an illuminated sign mounted on a wall and comprising a sign body and a lamp disposed to light the face of the sign characterised in that the lamp is a light tube located in a framework therefor on supports disposed in front of the sign face by a distance D and at an angle α, the distance and angle being selected so that the sign is lit up substantially unifoπnly across its face.

Preferably the framework comprises an elongate member of a channel section and the lamp is mounted therein, the lamp being disposed so as to face the panel at the angle α through the mouth of the channel section. Preferably the member includes a lid portion arranged to close the mouth of the channel section where illumination is not needed.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the lamp is a neon tube or a fluorescent tube and the control ballast therefor is located externally of the housing and is connected to the tube by wires. Most preferably the supports are hollow, and the control ballast is located behind the panel adjacent to the wall and the wires between the ballast and the tube extend through the hollow supports. In this way the connections are concealed, and the whole is aesthetically pleasing. Typically, two such lamps will be present on opposite sides, e.g. top and bottom of the panel.

Preferably the fluorescent lamp is a 28 watt long life tube having a small diameter.

Preferably the elongate member is an extrusion.

Other features of the invention are set out in the dependant Claims.

The invention also includes the method of making the illuminated sign.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one assembly of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on lines II - II on Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of area X on Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of area Y on Figure 2.

The assembly comprises a decorated panel P to be illuminated, for example as a sign board. The panel P has an acrylic face with vinyl display. The panel P is mounted on a vertical wall W, by brackets 1. The rear of the panel has a moulded styrene back shell 2 which contains a ballast or other control gear B for a fluorescent Ught tube T. The tube is the T5 type and was a small diameter e.g. 3mm.

A framework F comprises extruded lengths 3, of metal, e.g. aluminium, or plastics or a composite. The framework is held to the wall W in front of the panel P by support rods 4. The rods 4 are hollow aluminium extrusions and have tubular cross heads 5 at their free ends. As shown, there are two such lengths, one near the top and the other near the bottom of the panel P. Each length 3, is generally cylindrical as seen in cross section and, as shown in Figure 4, comprises a main channel shaped body 3A with an engagable, e.g. snap in lid 3B. The floor of the body 3A has a slot 6 to receive a spring clip 7. The framework lengths can receive a neon or fluorescent light tube T engaged in the spring clip 7. Where a tube T is inserted in the framework length, the lid 3B is removed so that the Ught from the tube can emerge via the mouth M of the channel body 3A. The Ud is left over lengths where illumination is not required. The lengths are received in the heads 5 of the rods 4, and are free to rotate therein so that

the centre of the tube T can be at an angle α to the horizontal centre of the panel P.

The rods 4 can be of predetermined length or adjustable, e.g. telescopic, to control the horizontal distance D between the panel P and the tube T. Letters or logos 9 are mounted by brackets 10 in front of the panel P and, as shown, they speU out the word MILK. (Of course the word or words wiU vary according to the circumstances.) Preferably they have a finish to avoid or reduce undue reflection, e.g. a matt finish. It has been discovered in accordance with this invention that by adjustment of the length

D and the angle α of the top and bottom lengths of the framework F, the panel P can

be Ut up in such a way that the Ught which is incident upon the surface area of the panel is substantiaUy uniformly distributed thereon and such that areas of shadow which might be cast by characters 9 which protrude from the surface of the panel P are reduced or eliminated. If the distance D is too short the panel P wiU appear dark in the middle; if it is too long there wiU be shadows and/or not enough iUumination.

Preferably the angle α is in the range of about 10° to about 90° and the distance D is about 180mm, in the case of a panel P having a height of about 360mm and spaced

100mm from the waU W.

The tube T is preferably of the T5 type available from Philips which has a smaU diameter, say 3mm. tube. Such a tube has a separate control baUast B. This item is located in the housing 2 and wires 8 lead from the baUast via the hoUow rods 4 through holes, not shown, into the heads 5 for connection to the ends of the tube. In this way the baUast B is concealed, and its connections are also concealed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The invention also includes the method of iUuminating a sign using the components specified. The framework need not be of the design shown, but may be vertical depending on the shape and disposition of the panel. The tube T may have an integral baUast. The sign may be ornamental or functional as in a header to a supply, e.g. "MILK", "CONFECTIONERY" or warning, e.g. "EXIT", "TOILET" or a greeting, e.g. "WELCOME". The panel P can be mounted on the waU using any suitable mounting means.

Claims

1. An iUuminated sign mounted on a waU and comprising a sign body and a lamp disposed to Ught up the face of the sign substantiaUy uniformly across its face, the lamp being a Ught tube located in a framework therefor on supports disposed in front of the sign face, wherein the framework comprises an elongate member of a channel section, the lamp being disposed within the member and arranged so as to face the panel at the angle α through the mouth of the channel section.

2. A sign according to Claim 1, wherein the member includes a Ud portion arranged to close the mouth of the channel section where iUumination is not required.

3. A sign according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the lamp is a neon tube or a fluorescent tube and the control baUast therefor is located externaUy of the housing and is connected to the tube by wires.

4. A sign according to any preceding Claim, wherein the supports are hoUow. and the control baUast is located behind the panel adjacent to the waU and the wires between the baUast and the tube extend through the hoUow supports.

5. A sign according to any preceding Claim, wherein the fluorescent lamp is a T5 type.

6. A sign according to any preceding Claim, wherein the elongate member is an extrusion.

7. A sign according to any preceding Claim, including a lamp on two opposite sides, preferably top and bottom.

8. A sign according to any preceding Claim, including symbols in front of the sign face.

9. A sign according to any preceding Claim, wherein the interior surface of the channel section is reflective.

10. A sign according to any preceding Claim, adapted for interior use.