LIGHT BOX APPARATUS

• US 20100027255A1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Optoelectronic Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Optoelectronic Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: TSENG, SHIH CHIEH, CHANG, CHIA CHEN, WU, WEI HUNG
• Application Number:
  US12/508,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0093 Means for protecting the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs

Abstract

A light box apparatus comprises at least one light source, a frame, and a light guide plate. The frame, the side frames of which are made of metallic formed bars, has an accommodation space. The light guide plate, disposed in the accommodation space, has a lateral side. The frame has at least one side frame edge, which has an inlay groove adjacent to the lateral side, and the light, emitted from the light source disposed in the inlay groove, passes through the lateral side and transmits in the light guide plate.

Claims

1. A light box apparatus, comprising:

at least one light source;

a light guide plate including a lateral side adjacent to said light source; and

a frame including a plurality of side frames and an accommodation space surrounded by said plurality of side frames, wherein said light guide plate is received within said accommodation space;

wherein at least one said side frame has a first inlay groove adjacent to said lateral side of said light guide plate, and said light source is received within said first inlay groove, whereby light emitted from said light source can pass through said lateral side and transmit said light guide plate.

2. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one side frame includes a second inlay groove for receiving a driving circuit board of said light source and power wires for connecting between said light source and said driving circuit board.

3. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one frame edge portion includes a third inlay groove for hoisting said frame.

4. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said light box apparatus comprises a transparent base plate being disposed on a light output surface at one side of said light guide plate for displaying pictures or text messages.

5. The light box apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said light box apparatus comprises a first waterproof strip and said frame comprises a plurality of support portions, wherein said first waterproof strip is disposed between said transparent base plate and said support portions of said frame.

6. The light box apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said support portion extends from said respective side frame to said accommodation space.

7. The light box apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said support portion comprises a first waterproof groove for receiving said first waterproof strip.

8. The light box apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said light box apparatus comprises a back plate being disposed on a light output surface at the other side, opposite to said transparent base plate, of said light guide plate.

9. The light box apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said light box apparatus comprises a second waterproof strip being disposed between a plate fixing surface of said frame and said back plate.

10. The light box apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said second inlay groove further comprises an opening disposed on said plate fixing surface of said back plate, and said second waterproof strip seals on said opening of said second inlay groove.

11. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein any two adjacent frame edge portions are joined by an end joint.

12. The light box apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said end joint comprises at least one convex portion and each frame edge portion comprises a second inlay groove, wherein said at least one convex portion of said end joint is configured to be inserted into the respective second inlay groove of said side frame.

13. The light box apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said light box apparatus comprises a waterproof mat disposed between said respective side frame and said respective end joint.

14. The light box apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said end joint is made by aluminum die cast method.

15. The light box apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said end joint comprises a second waterproof groove and said frame comprises a plurality of support portions each including a first waterproof groove, wherein said second waterproof groove is disposed corresponding to said first waterproof grooves.

16. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said light guide plate is made of acrylic.

17. The light box apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of side frames is made of aluminum.

18. The light box apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said light source is a light emitting diode (LED) light bar.

19. The light box apparatus as in claim 18, wherein a constant current is supplied to said driving circuit board to power said LED light bar.