Illuminated EL panel assembly
First Claim
1. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
- a pair of sheet-like panels, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein;
lamination means intermediate said panels for bonding said panels together, said lamination means being transparent after lamination;
a transparent electrically conductive coating on one surface of at least one of said panels, said one surface facing inwarding of said assembly;
electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when an electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panels in registry with said transparent area of said one panel, and having a surface contacting said transparent electrically conductive coating;
a metallic layer intermediate said lighting means and said one panel which includes said transparent area and covering at least a portion of said lighting means such that it is visible through said transparent area of said one panel, said metallic layer being at least partially reflective of light incident thereon;
conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating whereby said panels and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein such that when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A decorative panel assembly for vehicles, appliances or other applications including illuminated indicia, isignia or designs in registry with at least one transparent area in one of two panels. Illumination of the insignia/designs is made with a thin, composite electroluminescent lighting assembly which substantially avoids lamination problems between the supporting panels. Electrical connections are made through at least one transparent, electrically conductive coating on at least one of the panels such that the illuminated insignia, indicia or designs appear to "float" within the panel assembly without any electrical connections being visible around the illuminated element.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panels, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means intermediate said panels for bonding said panels together, said lamination means being transparent after lamination; a transparent electrically conductive coating on one surface of at least one of said panels, said one surface facing inwarding of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when an electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panels in registry with said transparent area of said one panel, and having a surface contacting said transparent electrically conductive coating; a metallic layer intermediate said lighting means and said one panel which includes said transparent area and covering at least a portion of said lighting means such that it is visible through said transparent area of said one panel, said metallic layer being at least partially reflective of light incident thereon; conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating whereby said panels and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein such that when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 11)
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2. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panels, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means intermediate said panels for bonding said panels together, said lamination means being transparent after lamination; a transparent electrically conductive coating on one surface of at least one of said panels, said one surface facing inwardly of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when an electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panels in registry with said transparent area of said one panel, and having a surface contacting said transparent electrically conductive coating; a metallic layer intermediate said lighting means and said one panel which includes said transparent area and covering at least a portion of said lighting means such that is visible through said transparent area of said one panel; conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating whereby said panels and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein such that when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means; said transparent, electrically conductive coating being on the second of said panels and including a pair of mutually insulated coating areas;
said one surface of said lighting means including a pair of mutually insulated backing electrodes;
each backing electrode contacting a different one of said coating areas. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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10. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panels, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means intermediate said panels for bonding said panels together, said lamination means being transparent after lamination; a transparent electrically conductive coating on one surface of at least one of said panels, said one surface facing inwardly of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when an electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panels in registry with said transparent area of said one panel, and having a surface contacting said transparent electrically conductive coating; a metallic layer intermediate said lighting means and said one panel which includes said transparent area and covering at least a portion of said lighting means such that it is visible through said transparent area of said one panel; conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating whereby said panels and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein such that when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means; a second transparent, electrically conductive coating on the inwardly facing surface of the other of said panels;
said conducting means including means for conducting electricity to both of said transparent electrically conductive coatings;said lighting means being a laminated assembly having a light transmitting, flexible, resinous plastic film coated with a third thin transparent electrically conductive coating;
said third thin conductive coating in turn covered with a layer of electroluminescent material;
said metallic layer positioned intermediate said lighting means and said one panel having at least one portion extending into engagement with said third transparent, electrically conductive coating on said light transmitting, flexible resinous plastic film.
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12. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panel members, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means for adhering said panel members to one another, said lamination means being substantially transparent at least in an area corresponding to said transparent area of said one panel member; a pair of mutually insulated, transparent electrically conductive coating areas on one surface of at least one of said panel members, said one surface facing inwardly of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panel members in registry with said transparent area of said one panel member, and including a pair of mutually insulated backing electrodes on one surface of said lighting means; said lighting means engaging said coating areas such that each backing electrode contacts a different one of said coating areas; conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating areas whereby when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 36)
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28. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panel members, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means for adhering said panel members to one another, said lamination means being substantially transparent at least in an area corresponding to said transparent area of said one panel member; each panel member including a transparent, electrically conductive coating on its surface, said surfaces facing inwardly of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration, located between said panel members in registry with said transparent area of said panel member and including a light transmitting, flexible, resinous plastic film coated with a third thin transparent electrically conductive coating;
said third thin conductive coating in turn covered with a layer of electroluminescent material and a thin metallic backing electrode applied over said electroluminescent material and contacting at least one of said transparent electrically conductive coatings;
a thin, partially reflective, light transmitting metallic film on a surface of said resinous plastic film opposite said third transparent electrically conductive coating, said thin metallic film having at least one portion engaging said third transparent electrically conductive coating;conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating areas on said panel members whereby when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means and said panel members and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panels, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means intermediate said panels for bonding said panels together, said lamination means being transparent after lamination; a pair of mutually insulated, transparent, electrically conductive coating areas on one surface of at least one of said panels, said one surface facing inwardly of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when an electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration between said panels in registry with said transparent area of said one panel, and having a surface including a pair of mutually insulated backing electrodes, each of said backing electrodes contacting a different one of said transparent electrically conductive coating areas; a thin object formed in a desired configuration and positioned intermediate said lighting means and said one panel which includes said transparent area and covering at least a portion of said lighting means such that said object is visible through said transparent area of said one panel; conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating areas whereby said panels and lamination means form a laminated assembly which supports and positions said lighting means and said thin object such that when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrical conductors being visible adjacent or around said lighting means. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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37. A panel assembly for displaying illuminated indicia, insignia or designs comprising:
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a pair of sheet-like panel members, at least one of which includes a transparent area therein; lamination means for adhering said panel members to one another, said lamination means being substantially transparent at least in an area corresponding to said transparent area of said one panel member and including an opening therein in registry with said transparent area of said one panel member; each panel member including a transparent, electrically conductive coating on its surface, said surfaces facing inwarding of said assembly; electroluminescent lighting means for illuminating an area of said assembly when electrical voltage is applied thereto, said lighting means being formed in a desired configuration, located between said panel members in registry with said transparent area of said panel member and within said opening in said lamination means, being in contact with said conductive coatings on said surfaces of said panel members, and including a layer of electroluminescent material; and conducting means positioned away from said lighting means for conducting electricity to said electrically conductive coating areas on said panel members whereby when said conducting means are connected to an electrical source, said lighting means are illuminated without any electrically conductive means being visible adjacent or around said lighting means and said panel members and lamination means form a laminated assembly with said lighting means therein.
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Specification