Overhead animated light display

• US 5,772,311 A
• Filed: 11/20/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Young Electric Sign Company
• Inventors: Gover, James Blake, Williams, John S., Harrison, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US08/559,616
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 362/147, 362/238, 362/240, 362/249, 362/250, 362/252, 362/145, 362/152, 362/225
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/28 Signs formed by filament-type lamp by selective lighting G09F9/00

Abstract

An overhead arcade-like light display is disclosed. The display comprises a canopy of an open framework with elongated linear raceways containing electrical wiring and supporting thousands of bulbs gathered in groups of four identified herein as pixels. Pixels are closely and regularly spaced. The raceways are linearly positioned running the length of said arcade and placed parallel to one another to position themselves to become the interior arcuate frame structure. Each pixel is covered with a light diffusing dome and the individual bulbs are of a different color so that colors, shades, tones and hues of a thousand varieties may be obtained from each domed pixel. A display having in excess of one million bulbs with minimal wind resistance is readily constructible.

Claims

1. An outdoor, electrical-lamp display structure comprising:

an elongated, elevated open-frame support structure;

linear raceway members attached closely adjacent to each other in substantially parallel relationship on said frame structure to run substantially the length of said structure, said raceway members having a box-like cross section and being structured and adapted to house internally electrical wiring and having a plurality of groups of closely spaced bulb openings on the same surface of a raceway, said openings structured and adapted to hold electrical lamps.

2. The display structure of claim 1, wherein said linear raceway members comprise raceway segments joined end-to-end.

3. The display structure of claim 1, wherein said group of closely spaced openings comprise at least three openings.

4. The display structure of claim 3, wherein said group of closely spaced openings consists essentially of four openings.

5. The display structure of claim 1, wherein the groups of closely spaced openings are regularly spaced along the surface of said raceway.

6. The display structure of claim 5, wherein the groups of closely spaced openings are spaced from about four to twelve inches from one another.

7. The display structure of claim 1, wherein said raceway members are regularly spaced from one another.

8. The display structure of claim 1, wherein the spacing between adjacent raceways is such that the spacing between an adjacent pair of groups of bulb openings on one raceway is substantially the same as the spacing between an adjacent pair of groups of bulb openings in a pair of raceways adjacent to one another.

9. The display structure of claim 8, wherein the spacing between adjacent raceways is from about two to twelve inches.