Direction indicator covers for emergency lighting systems

• US 5,611,163 A
• Filed: 10/21/1994
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Service Industries, Inc. (Alsco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/327,487
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 40/570, 40/580, 40/583, 403/13, 403/326, 403/345, 403/360, 220/284, 220/307, 362/456
• US Class Current: 40/570
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0454 Slidable panels or parts
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/1616 Position or guide means

Abstract

Detachable chevron-shaped panels that fit within chevron-shaped apertures in the cover of an exit sign. The panels are dimensioned to fit integrally into the apertures in order to withstand years of stress, temperature changes, and wear and tear but continue to perform in a light-fast and reliable manner. Yet they may be easily installed from the exterior of the exit sign, with minimum risk that they will fall into the interior during installation. Surprisingly, the present devices permit such easy installation without the need to use conventional "slide `n` snap" exit sign arrow fasteners that usually allow reliable installation but have proven to be destructive of a secure fit and light fastness. The panel accomplishes this by employing at least three tabs positioned in a certain manner about the perimeter of each wing of the panel which engage the (preferably bevelled) edge of the chevron-shaped aperture. The tabs are disposed in various quadrants around the centroid of each wing of the panel in order to create an integral fit of the long chevron wings to the cover and thus to reduce inadvertent detachment of the whole panel if a part of it is dislodged, or if the cover is deformed through heat or physical stress. Such positioning also provides multiple retention axes between tabs and creates lateral forces and bending moments, should any tab become dislodged, in order to continue securing the wing and the panel in place.

Claims

1. An illuminated exit sign for providing guidance to the egress of a building, the exit sign comprising:

a. a housing;

b. at least one lamp within the housing;

c. a cover removably attached to the housing and which defines a front surface facing outwardly from the sign and a reverse surface and comprising;

i. means for forming a message;

ii. a plurality of chevron-shaped apertures, each having a perimeter, at least two of which are located on the front surface of the cover and adjacent the message, each of which comprises;

(a) a first and second section that join to form a chevron shape; and

(b) when viewed in cross section, an aperture bevel extending from the front surface at least partially to the reverse surface to form an edge for capturing portions of an insert; and

d. a detachable insert, for covering one of the chevron-shaped apertures, comprising;

i. a chevron-shaped baseplate, sized substantially the same as at least one of the chevron-shaped apertures, containing an anterior surface and a posterior surface and featuring two wings, each of which has a centroid and a leading edge and a trailing edge;

ii. a bevel, extending at least partially from the anterior surface to the posterior surface of the baseplate and surrounding the baseplate and corresponding in orientation to the aperture bevel; and

iii. for each wing, at least three identical tabs dispersed about each wing, each of which when viewed in cross section alike extend from the bevel to a protrusion, and then back to the posterior side of the baseplate, thus forming a groove in which the edge of the aperture may be captured in a manner to allow the tabs securing the wing to the cover to occupy at least two non-adjacent quadrants about the centroid of each wing, the tabs forming a plurality of retention axes, each retention axis extending between a portion of one tab and a portion of another tab, the tabs thereby adapted to resist removal of the insert from the cover.

2. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the first section, second section and both wings are each formed in the shape of a parallelogram.

3. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the wings have two reference axes defining quadrants about the centroid, in which the wings are jointed at a central axis and at least one reference axis is parallel to the central axis.

4. An exit sign according to claim 3 in which the tabs located on the trailing edge are provided with chamfers having at least one edge parallel to the central axis.

5. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the protrusion is rounded and defines an engagement surface that assists the edges of the aperture to flex and move over the protrusion before being captured in the groove.

6. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the protrusion defines a capture plane and the bevel defines a bevel plane, each of which are separated by an oblique angle.

7. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the protrusion defines a slanted engaging surface that assists in the insertion of the insert into the aperture without deformation of the tabs.

8. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the protrusion defines a rounded engaging surface that assists in the insertion of the insert into the aperture without deformation of the tabs.

9. An exit sign according to claim 1 in which the cover further comprises a plurality of channels, which are located on the reverse surface of the cover and are adjacent the chevron-shaped apertures.

10. An exit sign according to claim 9 in which the channels receive the tabs.

11. An exit sign according to claim 9 in which a bevel surrounds the perimeter of the chevron-shaped aperture and is formed to match the panel bevel to provide an improved fit.

12. An exit sign according to claim 11 in which each channel and the bevel together define a capture edge for insertion within the groove.

13. A removable insert for covering a generally chevron-shaped direction indication means illuminated with light generated within a housing, the insert comprising:

a. an anterior surface;

b. a posterior surface;

c. a first wing defining a first edge;

d. a second wing defining a second edge;

e. wherein the first wing and the second wing are joined at the first edge and second edge to form a chevron shape; and

f. wherein each of the first and second wings have a centroid and four quadrants surrounding the centroid;

g. a bevel, encircling the insert and slanting inwardly from the anterior toward the posterior of the insert;

h. means for detachably securing the insert to the direction indication means in order to allow the insert to be removed from or reinserted into the directional indication means without impairing the tight, light-fast fit provided by the securing means, which comprises;

i. three identical tabs, arising from the bevel, wherein each tab when viewed in cross section defines a protrusion with an engagement edge and a capture edge for holding the insert in the tight, light-fast fit with the direction indication means;

ii. in which the tabs are positioned so as to surround each of the first and second wings such that the tabs are located in at least two non-adjacent quadrants, the tabs forming a plurality of retention axes, each retention axis extending between a portion of one tab and a portion of another tab, the tabs thereby adapted to resist removal of the insert from the cover; and

,

i. wherein the insert is sized to fit closely within the direction indication means.

14. The removable insert according to claim 13 in which each of the first and second wings are formed in the shape of a parallelogram.

15. The removable insert according to claim 13 in which the bevel slants partially from the anterior to the posterior of the insert and then forms a wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the anterior surface of the panel.

16. The removable insert according to claim 13 in which each tab inserts into a corresponding channel, a plurality of which are located on the direction indication means.

17. A lighting system comprising:

a. a housing;

b. means, located within the housing, for generating light;

c. a cover, comprising;

i. a face surface;

ii. a back surface;

iii. a plurality of chevron-shaped apertures for providing a directional indication, each aperture comprising;

(a) a first parallelogram;

(b) a second parallelogram; and

(c) a first axis formed by the junction of the first and second parallelograms; and

iv. a bevel, extending from the face surface to the back surface and at least partially surrounding each of the apertures, wherein the bevel assists in forming a plurality of capture edges;

d. a panel substantially the same size as the aperture for removably attaching to the aperture, wherein the panel defines an anterior surface, a posterior surface, a first wing and a second wing, wherein each of the first and second wings are parallelograms having a periphery and are joined together to form a chevron;

e. a bevel, surrounding the panel and extending at least partially through the panel;

f. for each of the first and second wings, at least three identical tabs located on the periphery of the wing, each tab comprising;

i. a protrusion; and

ii. a capture surface for receiving and securing one of said capture edges in order to hold the panel to the aperture in a tight, light-fast fit; and

g. each tab, when considered with each other tab, defining a retention axis, so that each wing contains at least two retention axes in order to allow remaining tabs on remaining retention axes to continue to secure the wing in place in the event that a tab is dislodged, and in a manner that distributes stresses from the panel to the cover.

18. A lighting system according to claim 17 in which the tabs are substantially the same size.

19. A lighting system according to claim 17 in which each wing defines a centroid and the retention axes do not pass through the centroid.

20. A lighting system according to claim 19 in which for each wing the tabs are located in at least two non-adjacent quadrants surrounding each centroid.

21. A lighting system according to claim 17 in which each wing defines a trailing edge and the tabs located on the trailing edges comprise a chamfer.

22. An emergency lighting system for indicating a direction to an exit under a variety of lighting conditions, the system comprising:

a. a housing for enclosing a means for generating illumination;

b. a removable cover, attached to the housing, having a face, a back and stenciling for defining a message;

c. a diffuser, secured between the removable cover and the housing, capable of allowing light to pass through the diffuser in order to illuminate the message;

d. a plurality of chevron-shaped apertures, each having a perimeter, formed within the cover and located adjacent the message for indicating a direction when light travels through the diffuser and escapes through the aperture, at least one aperture comprising;

i. a first parallelogram and a second parallelogram, joined at a central axis to form the chevron-shaped aperture;

ii. a bevel partially slanting from the front of the cover toward the back of the cover and surrounding the perimeter of the aperture; and

iii. a substantially vertical wall connected to the bevel and the back of the cover;

e. a series of channels inscribed in the back of the cover and surrounding the perimeter of the chevron-shaped aperture, each channel combining with the bevel to form a capture point;

f. a removable and replaceable panel, defining an anterior surface, a posterior surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, shaped to fit tightly within the aperture, the panel comprising;

i. a first wing and a second wing, each formed into a parallelogram, joined at a central axis to form a chevron shape and having a centroid;

ii. for each of the first and second wings, four quadrants surrounding the centroid;

iii. a panel bevel surrounding the panel and slanting at least partially inwards from the anterior surface to the posterior surface;

iv. for each of the first and second wings, at least three tabs, located on the leading and trailing edges of the panel in at least two non-adjacent quadrants so as to provide multiple retention axes, each tab shaped substantially the same and when viewed in cross section comprises;

(a) a protrusion joined to the panel bevel and the posterior of the panel, wherein the protrusion defines

(b) a rounded engaging surface over which a capture point of the aperture will slide; and

(c) a capturing surface for engaging the capture point of the aperture in order to secure releasably the capture point of the aperture and thereby provide a tight, light-fast fit between the panel and the aperture; and

g. wherein the tabs located on the trailing edge of the panel define a chamber having at least one edge parallel to the central axis of the panel.