Device for presenting multiple illuminated messages and a method for making same

• US 6,160,495 A
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Demco Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Demco Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Diffin, Bernard, Demink, Lon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/225,908
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 340/944, 340/925, 340/332, 340/917, 340/907, 340/815.42, 340/815.43, 340/815.55, 340/815.73, 362/812, 116/63 R, 40/545, 40/541, 40/553, 40/557
• US Class Current: 340/944
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/023 for pedestrian walkways
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2111/00 Light sources of a form not covered by groups F21Y2101/00-F21Y2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/26 Signs formed by electric discharge tubes by selective lighting G09F9/00

Abstract

A device for presenting multiple illuminated messages and a method for making same. The device includes a uniformly thick panel of transparent material having at least one elongated and continuous passageway therein forming a message to be indicated. The passageway is filled with gas and materials that emit light.

Claims

1. An illuminated sign, comprising:

a uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material having large area frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces;

separate first and second elongated and continuous passageways in said panel oriented between said frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, said first passageway being oriented uniformly adjacent said frontwardly facing surface and said second passageway being oriented uniformly adjacent said rearwardly facing surface, both of said first and second passageways being visible through at least one of said frontwardly facing surface and said rearwardly facing surface;

an electrically energizable gas sealed in each passageway; and

spaced electrodes in each of said passageways so that electrical energy selectively applied to said electrodes in one passageway will effect an electrical energization of said gas therein independent of an electrical energization of said gas in an other of said passageways.

2. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein all of said first passageway is transparent to thereby make visible through said frontwardly facing surface all of said second passageway.

3. The illuminated sign according to claim 2, wherein said first passageway is oriented directly between said second passageway and said frontwardly facing surface.

4. The illuminated sign according to claim 3, wherein said electrically energizable gas in said first passageway is neon.

5. The illuminated sign according to claim 4, wherein said electrically energizable gas in said second passageway is an argon-mercury vapor, and wherein an interior of said second passageway is at least partially coated with a non-transmissible phosphor.

6. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material is mounted in a housing having an open front side and a closed back side, said panel occupying a majority of an area of said open front side.

7. The illuminated sign according to claim 6, wherein said housing includes a removable cover for closing said open front side when in a closed position thereof and providing access to an interior of said housing when in an opened position thereof, and wherein said cover has an opening therethrough through which said frontwardly facing surface and said first and second passageways are visible.

8. The illuminated sign according to claim 7, wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material is mounted on said cover.

9. The illuminated sign according to claim 7, wherein said first passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of DONT WALK;

and wherein said said second passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of WALK as used in pedestrian traffic signals.

10. The illuminated sign according to claim 7, wherein said first passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of an X;

and wherein said second passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of a downwardly pointing arrow as used in a lane-use traffic control signal.

11. The illuminated sign according to claim 7, wherein said first passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of a left arrow;

and wherein said second passageway forms a message bearing indicia representative of a right arrow as used in a vehicle traffic control signal.

12. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material includes a first transparent member made of a moldable material and having on each side thereof that is parallel to respective said frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces one of said first and said second passageways in the form of a trough mold formed therein, each of said first and second troughs opening outwardly in respective directions transverse of said frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, wherein a second transparent member is sealingly attached to said first transparent member to sealingly cover all of said first trough, wherein a third transparent member is sealingly attached to said first transparent member to sealingly cover all of said second trough, wherein said electrodes in said first trough each include a wire segment extending through respective sealed openings therefor in said first and third transparent members, and wherein said electrodes in said second trough each include a wire segment extending through respective sealed openings therefor in said third transparent member.

13. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein regions of said panel whereat electrodes for facilitating the electrical energization of said gas in respective said first and second passageways are located are covered by a mask member secured to said frontwardly facing surface.

14. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein an electrical heater is provided on said rearwardly facing surface adjacent said second passageway for heating said gas in said second passageway.

15. The illuminated sign according to claim 14, wherein said electrical heater includes a heater wire connected in series with a thermostat for controlling the supply of electrical energy to said heater wire to periods of time where a temperature of said rearwardly facing surface is below a specified temperature setting on said thermostat.

16. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material is mounted in a housing having an open front side and a closed back side, said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material occupying a majority of an area of said open front side;

wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material is oriented between separate and spaced therefrom plates so as to isolate said panel from cold climate conditions; and

wherein said plate adjacent and spaced from said frontwardly facing surface is transparent.

17. The illuminated sign according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material includes a first transparent member having on opposing sides thereof one of said first and second passageways which are each in a form of a trough having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top, said first transparent member having a first thickness dimension;

and

wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material further includes a second transparent member sealingly attached to said first transparent member to sealingly close said open top of said first passageway; and

wherein said uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material further includes a third member sealingly attached to said first transparent member on a side thereof remote from said second transparent member to sealingly close said open top of said second passageway; and

wherein said second and third transparent members each have a second thickness dimension less than said first thickness dimension.

18. An illuminated sign, comprising:

a uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material having large area frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, said panel including a first transparent member having on at least one side a passageway which is in a form of a trough having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and an open top, said panel further including a second transparent member sealingly attached to said first transparent member to sealingly close said open top of said passageway;

an electrically energizable gas sealed in said passageway; and

spaced electrodes in said passageway so that electrical energy applied to said electrodes will effect an electrical energization of said gas therein.

19. The illuminated sign according to claim 18, wherein said first transparent member includes third and fourth transparent members, said third transparent member having at least one elongate and continuous said passageway formed therethrough, said fourth transparent member being sealingly attached to a rearwardly facing surface of said third transparent member to define said bottom wall of said passageway.

20. The illuminated sign according to claim 18, wherein an electrical heater is provided on said rearwardly facing surface of said first transparent member and adjacent said passageway for heating said gas in said passageway.

21. The illuminated sign according to claim 20, wherein said electrical heater includes an elongate electrical heater wire which extends coextensively with said passageway.

22. An illuminated sign, comprising:

a uniformly thick panel of solid transparent material having large area frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces;

at least one elongate and continuous passageway in said panel oriented between said frontwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces, said passageway being oriented uniformly adjacent one of said frontwardly facing surface and said rearwardly facing surface, said passageway being visible through at least one of said frontwardly facing surface and said rearwardly facing surface;

an electrically energizable gas sealed in said passageway;

spaced electrodes in said passageway so that electrical energy selectively applied to said electrodes in said passageway will effect an electrical energization of said gas therein; and

an electrical heater on said rearwardly facing surface and adjacent a rear side of said passageway for heating said gas in said passageway.

23. The illuminated sign according to claim 22, wherein a second passageway is provided independent of said passageway and is oriented to one lateral side of said passageway so that side-by-side message indicia will be simultaneously or alternatingly displayed.

24. The illuminated sign according to claim 22, wherein said electrical heater includes an elongate electrical heater wire which extends coextensively with said passageway.