Method and apparatus for simulating the appearance of a neon sign

• US 20070283604A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy K.F. Kaoh
• Original Assignee: Andy K.F. Kaoh
• Inventors: Kaoh, Andy K. F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/552
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in a customized housing produce bright colored light simulating the appearance of a neon sign. The housing includes an opaque portion that reflects light from the LEDs and a translucent portion shaped in the form of an image or lettering that diffuses light from the LEDs. The inside surface of the opaque portion has a polished reflective surface while the outside surface has a dull textured surface. Light emanating from the LEDs propagates through the translucent portion of the housing appearing to a viewer as a bright uniform and colorful light similar in appearance to the light emitted from a neon sign.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a housing having one or more concavities defining indicia representative of a message to be conveyed;

one or more openings in the housing positioned complimentary to the one or more indicia concavities and adjacent to the indicia concavities to outline and emphasize the message indicia;

a source of illumination within the concavities for emitting light; and

a cover member complementary to the one or more indicia concavities for closing the concavities and diffusing the emitted light to convey the message indicia to an observer.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source of illumination is a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cover member diffuses light from the LEDs to simulate a glow of a neon light.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 wherein the cover member is made substantially of an acrylic material.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cover member has a frosted or sanded surface to diffuse light.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover member has a partially opaque surface forming a template that defines lettering, images, or icons.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6 wherein the partially opaque surface is of ink deposited from a silk screen.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the concavities have a reflective surface.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control panel that controls a flash rate of the source of illumination.

10. A neon light simulating apparatus comprising:

a housing of contoured molded plastic defining a plurality of contoured chambers with each chamber substantially shaped to form a segment of indicia of a message to be conveyed, each chamber including;

opaque walls for reflecting light generated inside the chamber,

at least one light diffusive surface shaped to form the respective segment of indicia of a message to be conveyed, the light diffusive surface extending from the chamber to the outside of the housing, and

at least one semiconductor device inside each chamber of the housing for generating light; and

one or more openings in the housing positioned complimentary to the one or more indicia concavities and adjacent to the indicia concavities to outline and emphasize the message indicia;

whereby light from each of the semiconductors in each of the chambers is reflected off the opaque walls and diffused through respective light diffusive surfaces emulating the segmented light radiated from a neon light.

11. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing is substantially opaque and textured presenting a small visual signature.

12. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 wherein the light diffusive surface is acrylic with a frosted surface.

13. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 wherein the light diffusive surface is acrylic with a sanded surface.

14. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 wherein the housing has contours that complement the outer profile of the light diffusive surfaces.

15. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a means for controlling the flash rate of at least one of the semiconductor devices.

16. The neon light simulating apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the chambers segregates semiconductors by the color of light they emit.

17. A lettering channel comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)

an elongated channel shaped to form signage letters composed substantially of opaque material surrounding the plurality of LEDs;

a first translucent surface extending from the inside to the outside of the elongated channel for transmitting and diffusing light emitted by the LEDs; and

a second translucent surface substantially perpendicular to the first translucent surface extending from the inside to the outside of the elongated channel for transmitting and diffusing light emitted by the LEDs producing a three dimensional lettering channel appearance.

18. The lettering channel of claim 17 wherein the elongated channel is composed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

19. The lettering channel of claim 18 wherein the translucent lens is acrylic with a frosted or sanded surface.

20. The lettering channel of claim 19 further comprising a control panel and control circuit for controlling the light intensity of the LEDs.

21. A method for simulating a neon sign comprising the steps of:

forming a housing having, a first surface with one or more concavities defining indicia representative of a message to be conveyed, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and one or more first openings positioned complimentary to the one or more concavities to outline and emphasize the message indicia;

placing a source of illumination within the concavities to enable an emission of light;

forming a cover member of translucent material with second openings complementary to the first openings and having a shape to cover the concavities;

applying a coating to the cover member to define a silhouette of the indicia of the message to be conveyed;

placing the cover member over the first surface of the housing; and

aligning the first and second openings to form a single a single rigid structure, whereby light when emitted from the source of illumination is reflected by the concavity walls and the cover member ink and diffused by the cover member to produce a neon like visual effect.

22. The method for simulating a neon sign of claim 21 further comprising ultrasonically joining the cover member to the housing.

23. The method for simulating a neon sign of claim 21 wherein each of the first openings extend from the first surface to the second surface.