LED exit light fixture

• US 5,299,109 A
• Filed: 11/10/1992
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: High Lites, Inc.
• Original Assignee: High Lites, Inc.
• Inventors: Grondal, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US07/974,092
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 40/219, 40/544, 40/570, 40/574, 40/582, 40/615, 362/244, 362/245, 362/227, 362/260, 362/300, 362/301, 362/307, 362/311, 362/800, 362/812, 362/241, 362/247
• US Class Current: 362/241
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An emergency light fixture is disclosed which includes a frame and a cover for the frame that has translucent and non-translucent portions thereon. The translucent portions of the cover define the word EXIT. The cover is indirectly lit from the interior of the fixture by an array of light emitting diodes mounted in the frame beneath the cover. The light emitting diodes are positioned directly beneath the non-translucent portions of the cover adjacent the translucent portions thereof in order to provide a uniform illumination to the translucent portions of the cover.

Claims

1. An emergency light fixture comprising a frame, a cover movably mounted on the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position adjacent the frame, said cover including translucent and non-translucent portions therein, said translucent portions having a predetermined configuration;

and an array of light emitting diodes mounted on said frame beneath said cover;

said light emitting diodes being positioned in the frame directly beneath the non-translucent portion of the cover and adjacent the translucent portions thereof when the cover is in the closed position;

said cover having individual light reflective surfaces respectively associated with each of said light emitting diodes and located on the cover to be directly above the respective diodes within the non-translucent portions of the cover when the cover is in its closed position; and

said light emitting diodes being mounted on a board in said frame having a surface facing said cover and said surface being coated with a reflective material.

2. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein said translucent portions of the cover define the word EXIT and said light emitting diodes are arrayed about the letters of the word beneath the non-translucent portions of the cover to provide indirect light to the translucent portions of the cover.

3. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 2 wherein said cover comprises a first non-translucent cover element having the word EXIT formed by apertures therein and a second translucent cover element removable mounted on the first cover element between the first cover element and said diodes.

4. An emergency light as defined in claim 3 wherein said cover is pivotally mounted in said frame.

5. An emergency light as defined in claim 2 wherein said board on which the light emitting diodes are mounted is a circuit board.

6. An emergency light as defined in claim 5 wherein the reflective surfaces on the cover and the reflective material on the circuit board are formed of a fluorescent paint.

7. An emergency light fixture comprising a frame having at least one open side, a cover removably mounted on said frame over said open side, said cover including a translucent portion and non-translucent portions therein, said translucent portions defining intelligible indicia, and an array of light emitting diodes mounted in said frame beneath said cover;

said light emitting diodes being positioned in the frame directly beneath the non-translucent portions of the cover and adjacent the translucent portions thereof;

individual light reflective surfaces respectively associated with each of said light emitting diodes and located on the cover to be directly above the respective diodes within the non-translucent portions of the cover;

said light emitting diodes being mounted on a board within said frame, and said board having a light reflecting surface facing said cover.

8. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 7 wherein the translucent portions of the cover define the word EXIT and said light emitting diodes are arrayed about the letters of the word beneath the non-translucent portions of the cover.

9. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 8 wherein said cover comprises a first non-translucent cover element having the word EXIT formed by apertures therein and a second translucent cover element removable mounted on the first cover element between the first cover element and said diodes.

10. An emergency light as defined in claim 9 wherein said cover is pivotally mounted in said frame.

11. An emergency light as defined in claim 7 wherein the light reflective surfaces on the cover and the light reflective surface on the board formed of a fluorescent paint.