LED assembly for illuminated signs

• US 6,042,248 A
• Filed: 10/15/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard Hunt, Tom Winslow
• Original Assignee: Lektron Industrial Supply, Inc.
• Inventors: Preddy, G. Robert, Hannah, Freddie L., Hannah, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONEYMAN, MARSHALL S
• Application Number:
  US08/950,478
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 40/541, 40/550, 40/564, 40/580, 40/552, 362/812, 362/800, 362/227, 362/249, 362/252, 362/240, 362/362, 362/370, 362/235
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An assembly for illuminating a sign having an enclosure covered by a translucent panel includes a plurality of track molding sections, each having at least one circuit board electrically connecting a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon, integrated into a unitary structure by brackets or a stencil with the molding sections secured in a configuration suitable to be inserted into the enclosure and to illuminate the translucent panel. The unitary structure is secured in the enclosure into which has been inserted by sheet metal screws, epoxy glue, double backed adhesive strips or the like. Preferably, if brackets are used, at least two of the brackets extend to a side wall of the enclosure and a plurality of screws fasten the brackets to the side walls of the enclosure to which they extend. Preferably, each of the circuit boards is electrically connected into a single circuit and a transformer which is secured to one of the brackets or to the stencil has low voltage terminals which are electrically connected to the single circuit. A switch, sometimes part of the sign being illuminated, may be used to electrically connect the high voltage terminals of the transformer to an electrical power source. A housing secured to one of the brackets or to the stencil may be used to cover the transformer. Preferably, if a stencil is used, the stencil is proportionately smaller than the translucent panel and most preferably is formed by use of electronic data defining the configuration of the translucent surface or the enclosure.

Claims

1. An assembly for illuminating a sign having an alpha numeric/graphic-shaped enclosure covered by a translucent panel comprising:

an alpha numeric/graphic-shaped flat stencil imaging the alpha numeric/graphic-shaped enclosure and concentrically insertable therein;

a plurality of elongated track molding sections arranged in a configuration imaging said stencil and concentrically fastened to said stencil, each said molding section having opposed channels extending along a length thereof;

a plurality of circuit boards, each said molding section having at least one said circuit board disposed in said opposed channels, each said circuit board electrically connecting a plurality of LEDs mounted thereon; and

means electrically connecting all of said LEDs into a single circuit.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, said stencil being proportionately smaller than said translucent panel.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, said stencil being formed by use of electronic data defining a configuration of the translucent surface.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, said stencil being formed by use of electronic data defining a configuration of the enclosure.