Lighted signage using reflected light behind the signage

• US 20080276507A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen P. Hines
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/541
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2019/221 on tunnel walls for underground trains

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer moving along a path of travel past a viewing display, comprising:

a viewing box;

a substantially vertical light source located in the viewing box behind the first and second transparent images, relative to the viewer;

a first transparent image contained in the viewing box;

a first reflector for providing substantially vertical reflected light from the substantially vertical light source of narrow width relative to the first transparent image, said first reflector being located in the viewing box behind the first transparent image, relative to the viewer;

a second transparent image contained in the viewing box;

a second reflector for providing substantially vertical reflected light from the substantially vertical light source of narrow width relative to the second transparent image, said second reflector being located in the viewing box behind the first transparent image, relative to the viewer; and

wherein light from the substantially vertical light source is blocked from directly illuminating either the first or the second transparent images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the appearance of the back-lighted image is of a still image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent image is comprised of a video display.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the video display is comprised of an LCD video display.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially vertical light source is a fluorescent lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second reflectors are curved.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second reflectors are selected from the group consisting of a reflective rod, a reflective tube and a rounded shape stamped in a reflective sheet or reflective film.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second reflectors are spaced equidistant from the substantially vertical light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only one bright reflection appears behind each of the first and second transparent images.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a baffle placed between the first and second reflectors to prevent secondary reflections.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a baffle located between the substantially vertical light source and the first and second transparent images.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the baffle is an opaque black baffle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the viewing displays aligned parallel to a path of travel with the plurality of transparent images so as to create an effect of moving images as the viewer moves past the plurality of the viewing displays.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, where the appearance of the back-lighted image is of a film image.

15. A method for displaying a back-lighted image to one or more viewers moving along a path of travel past a viewing display, comprising the steps of:

placing a viewing box with a transparent image parallel to the path of travel; and

illuminating the transparent image with a substantially vertical reflected light of narrow width relative to the transparent image reflected from a substantially vertical light source, said light source being located in the viewing box behind the transparent image, relative to the viewer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transparent image is comprised of a video display.

17. A method for displaying a plurality of back-lighted images to a plurality of viewers moving along a path of travel past the plurality of back-lighted images so as to produce an effect of moving images, comprising the steps of:

placing one or more viewing boxes in the path of travel; and

illuminating each of a plurality of transparent images held in the one or more viewing boxes with a substantially vertical narrow reflected light reflected from a substantially vertical light source as the viewer moves in the path of travel past the one or more viewing boxes;

wherein each of the substantially vertical narrow reflected lights is located behind one of the plurality of transparent images relative to the viewer.