Illuminated sign

• US 6,076,294 A
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumenids, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lumenids, Ltd.
• Inventors: Durbin, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chop, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US09/436,713
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 40/544, 40/546, 40/547
• US Class Current: 40/544
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

An illuminated sign comprises a photoconductive plate and a series of light-emitting diodes of a type having a viewing angle of approximately 8°. Being made from polycarbonate in a single piece, the photoconductive plate is inset from its back face, toward its front face but not through it, so as to define a series of indicia, each having a boundary. Each light-emitting diode is pressed into a recess opening at an outer periphery of the photoconductive plate, between the front and back faces. The recesses orient the light-emitting diodes so that a part of the boundary of each of the indicia is disposed within the viewing angle of at least one of the light-emitting diodes and so that another part thereof is not disposed within the viewing angle of any of the light-emitting diodes. An opaque material covers the back face of the photoconductive plate, at least where the back face is visible through the front face thereof, except where the photoconductive plate is inset so as to define the indicia. A fluorescent material covers the indicia and is adapted to fluoresce at a color matching the color of light emitted by the light-emitting diodes when energized.

Claims

1. An illuminated sign comprising:

(a) a photoconductive plate having a front face, a back face, and an outer edge, the photoconductive plate being inset from the back face, toward the front face but not through the photoconductive plate, so as to define an inset indicium having a boundary,

(b) a light-emitting diode of a type that has a viewing angle, the light-emitting diode having a centerline and being pressed into a recess that opens at the outer edge of the photoconductive plate, between the front and back faces, the recess orienting the light-emitting diode so that a part of the boundary of the inset indicium is disposed within the viewing angle of the light-emitting diode, the indicium being inset to a plane at a sufficient depth from the back face to cause the centerline of the light-emitting diode to pass through the boundary of the indicium and to be located between the plane and the back face,

(c) an opaque material covering the back face, at least where the back face is visible through the front face, except where the photoconductive plate is inset so as to define the indicium, and

(d) a fluorescent material covering the inset indicium, visible through the front face, and adapted to fluoresce when illuminated by ambient light, by light emitted by the light-emitting diode, and by both.

2. The illuminated sign of claim 1 wherein the recess orients the light-emitting diode so that another part of the boundary of the inset indicium is not disposed within the viewing angle of the light-emitting diode.

3. The illuminated sign of claim 2 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle not more than approximately 45°

.

4. The illuminated sign of claim 3 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle of approximately 8°

.

5. The illuminated sign of claim 1 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle not more than approximately 45°

.

6. The illuminated sign of claim 5 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle of approximately 8°

.

7. An illuminated sign comprising:

(a) a photoconductive plate having a front face, a back face, and an outer edge, the photoconductive plate being inset from the back face, toward the front face but not through the photoconductive plate, so as to define a series of inset indicia with each indicium having a boundary,

(b) a series of light-emitting diodes of a type that has a viewing angle, each light-emitting diode having a centerline and being pressed into a recess that opens at the outer edge of the photoconductive plate, between the front and back faces, the recesses orienting the light-emitting diodes so that a part of the boundary of each of the series of inset indicium is disposed within the viewing angle of at least one of the light-emitting diodes, each one of the series of indicia being inset to a plane at a sufficient depth from the back face to cause the centerline of at least one of the light-emitting diodes to pass through the boundary of at least one of the series of indicia and to be located between the plane and the back face,

(c) an opaque material covering the back face, at least where the back face is visible through the front face, except where the photoconductive plate is inset so as to define the series of indicia, and

(d) a fluorescent material covering each of the series of inset indicia, visible through the front face, and adapted to fluoresce when illuminated by ambient light, by light emitted by the light-emitting diode, and by both.

8. The illuminated sign of claim 7 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle not more than approximately 45°

.

9. The illuminated sign of claim 8 wherein the light-emitting diode has a viewing angle of approximately 8°

.