Panel with light permeable images

• US 6,212,805 B1
• Filed: 07/06/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Contra Vision,LTD
• Original Assignee: Contra Vision,LTD
• Inventors: Hill, George Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M
• Application Number:
  US09/101,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 404/43, 404/42, 406/15
• US Class Current: 40/443
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/066 comprising at least two transparent elements, e.g. sheets, layers layered products of glass and synthetic resin containing decorations or patterns B32B17/10247; window units comprising two or more parallel glass panes E06B3/66
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/10 Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/12 using a transparent mirror or other light reflecting surface transparent to transmitted light whereby a sign, symbol, picture or other is visible only when illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/02 Bills, posters, or the like therefor

Abstract

A panel includes a sheet of light permeable, preferably optically clear transparent material and a transparent or translucent design superimposed on or forming part of a transparent or translucent base pattern. The design is visible from one side of the panel and a mirror image of the design is visible from the other side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illuminated is provided on either side or both sides of the panel.

Claims

1. A panel comprising a sheet of colored or colorless transparent material and a transparent or translucent design, said transparent or translucent design being superimposed with a base pattern which extends over the area of said sheet covered by said design and being adhered to at least one of said base pattern and said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material, said base pattern comprising a translucent base layer and subdividing the panel into a plurality of areas of said base layer and/or a plurality of areas of said colored or colorless transparent material, said layers being constructed and arranged such that the whole of said design is visible from a first viewing position located on one side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on the other side of the panel and a mirror of the whole of said design is visible from a second viewing position located on the other side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on said one side of the panel.

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base pattern is extends over the entirely of said sheet.

3. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base pattern comprises a plurality of geometric elements arranged in a regular layout.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base pattern comprises an even continuum.

5. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the panel comprises two outer edges of said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material and alternate translucent portions and transparent portions of said panel, and wherein the average width of said translucent portions is less than 6 mm and the average width of said transparent portions is less than 3 mm.

6. A panel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the average width of said translucent portions is less than 2 mm and the average width of said transparent portions is less than 2 mm.

7. A panel as claimed claim 1, wherein the ratio of base pattern area:

transparent area is in the range of 1;

1 to 4;

1.

8. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base layer comprises an ink.

9. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base layer is white.

10. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base layer comprises a grey material.

11. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base pattern comprises a perforated, translucent material.

12. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet of transparent material is imperforate.

13. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet of transparent material is perforated.

14. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel is configured such that an observer on one side of the panel can see through the panel when the level of illumination perceived through the panel from the other side of the panel sufficiently exceeds the illumination reflected by said panel when observed from said one side of the panel, and an observer on said other side of said panel can see through the panel when the level of illumination perceived through the panel from said one side of the panel sufficiently exceeds the illumination reflected by said panel when observed from said other side of the panel.

15. A panel as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said design comprises a design layer and wherein, within each of the translucent portions, said base layer has two outer edges and said design layer has two outer edges and the two outer edges of said design layer are located within the two outer edges of said base layer.

16. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first design layer is printed onto said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material, said base layer is printed onto said first design layer, and a second design layer, substantially identical to said first design layer, is printed onto said base layer.

17. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror image of said design is printed onto said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material.

18. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror image of said design is printed onto said base layer.

19. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design and said base pattern have been formed by offset litho printing.

20. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design and said pattern have been formed by a digital printing system.

21. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design and said base pattern have been formed by ink jet printing.

22. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design has been applied by means of transfer from a carrying surface or membrane.

23. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design has been applied by means of ceramic ink transfer.

24. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design has been printed by a four colour print process.

25. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said panel has a light redirecting surface disposed between front and rear surfaces thereof substantially at an angle to said front and rear surfaces, said light redirecting surface being configured and disposed so as to redirect incident light by reflection.

26. A panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said light redirecting surface includes at least one surface formed as part of a prismatic projection of said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material.

27. A panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said light redirecting surface includes at least one surface formed as part of a prismatic recess of said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material.

28. A panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said panel has a void formed therein and said light redirecting surface constitutes a boundary of said void.

29. A panel as claimed in claim 25, wherein said design and said base layer are disposed between said front and rear surfaces of said panel.

30. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the design and base pattern have an average light transmissivity of at least 1%.

31. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the design and base pattern have an average light transmissivity of greater than 3%.

32. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design is superimposed with said base pattern by projection from one side of said panel, whereby said design is visible from said one side of said panel and a mirror image of said design is visible from the other side of said panel.

43. A panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein all of said geometric elements have the same shape.

44. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said design is visually independent of said base pattern such that at least a part of said design remains clearly perceptible to an observer on said one side of said panel even when the observer has moved far enough away from said panel that individual elements of said base pattern no longer can be resolved by the eye of the observer.

46. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material comprises a partially metallized mirror material.

33. An illuminated panel assembly, comprising:

a panel comprising a sheet of colored or colorless transparent material and a transparent or translucent design, said transparent or translucent design being superimposed with a base pattern which extends over the area of said sheet covered by said design and being adhered to at least one of said base pattern and said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material, said base pattern comprising a translucent base layer and subdividing the panel into a plurality of areas of said base layer and/or a plurality of areas of said colored or colorless transparent material, said layers being constructed and arranged such that the whole of said design is visible from a first viewing position located on one side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on the other side of the panel and a mirror image of the whole of said design is visible from a second viewing position located on the other side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on said one side of the panel; and

a spotlight source of illumination located on said other side of said panel, outside a prismatic space formed by a projection of said panel perpendicular to said panel and directed to illuminate said other side of said panel;

whereby the perceptibility of the design perceived by an observer located at said first viewing position, with the spotlight source of illumination shielded from the observer by an opaque material disposed between the observer and the spotlight source of illumination such that the spotlight source of illumination is outside any direct line of sight from the viewer, is substantially increased by shining the spotlight source of illumination on said other said of said panel.

47. An illuminated panel assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein a mirror material is spaced from the other side of said panel.

48. An illuminated panel assembly as claimed in claim 47, wherein said mirror material is a partially metallized mirror material.

49. An illuminated panel assembly as claimed in claim 33, said assembly further comprising a rear design panel that is spaced from the other side of said panel and a second spotlight source of illumination that is directed to illuminate said rear design panel.

34. A method of displaying a transparent or translucent design, said method comprising:

providing a panel comprising a sheet of colored or colorless transparent material having said transparent or translucent design printed thereon, said transparent or translucent design being superimposed with a base pattern which extends over the area of said sheet covered by said design and being adhered to at least one of said base pattern and said sheet of colored or colorless transparent material, said base pattern comprising a translucent base layer and subdividing the panel into a plurality of areas of said base layer and/or a plurality of areas of said colored or colorless transparent material, said layers being constructed and arranged such that the whole of said design is visible from a first viewing position located on one side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on the other side of the panel and a mirror image of the whole of said design is visible from a second viewing position located on the other side of the panel when a sufficiently high level of illumination is provided on said one side of the panel; and

illuminating the panel on said other side of said panel with a first spotlight source of illumination, said first spotlight source of illumination being located outside a prismatic space formed by a projection of said panel perpendicular to said panel and said first spotlight source of illumination being directed onto said other side of said panel.

35. A method of displaying a transparent or translucent design as claimed in claim 34, further comprising increasing the luminous intensity of said first spotlight source illumination on said other side of said panel to increase the luminance and perceptibility of said design from said first viewing position.

36. A method of displaying a transparent or translucent design as claimed in claim 35, said method further comprising controlling the perceptibility from said first viewing position of said design and an object spaced from the other side of the panel, opposite to said first viewing position and with said panel disposed therebetween, by:

a) illuminating the space on said other side of the panel with a source of general illumination of sufficient luminous intensity such that, when said first spotlight source of illumination is not switched on, said object forms a principal perceived image from said first viewing position; and

b) switching on said first spotlight source of illumination at a sufficient level of luminous intensity such that the principal perceived image from said first viewing position changes from said object to said design.

37. A method of illuminating a panel as claimed in claim 36, said method further comprising selecting the level of illumination provided by each of the illumination sources whereby a principal perceived image visible at said first viewing position alternates between said design and said object.

38. A method of displaying a transparent or translucent design as claimed in claim 34, said method further comprising a) variably illuminating the panel on said other side of said panel with said first spotlight source of illumination, b) variably illuminating the space on said other side of said panel with a first source of general illumination, c) variably illuminating said one side of said panel with a second spotlight source of illumination directed onto said one side of said panel, and/or d) variably illuminating the space on said one side of said panel with a second source of general illumination.

39. A method of displaying a transparent or translucent design as claimed in claim 38, said method further comprising selecting the level of illumination provided by each of the illumination sources such that 1) a first observer at said first viewing position on said one side of said panel can optionally see both the design and a second observer at said second viewing position on said other side of said panel;

and

     2) said second observer can optionally see both a mirror image of said design and said first observer at said first viewing position on said one side of said panel.

40. A method of illuminating a panel as claimed in claim 39, said method further comprising increasing the luminous intensity of said first source of general illumination until said second observer located at said second viewing position is visible to and forms the principal perceived image for said first observer located at said first viewing position, and then increasing the luminous intensity of said first spotlight source of illumination whereby said design becomes a principal perceived image for said first observer located at said first viewing position.

41. A method of illuminating a panel as claimed in claim 38, further comprising increasing the luminous intensity of said second spotlight source of illumination until a mirror image of said design is visible to an observer located at said second viewing position on said other side of said panel.

42. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said method comprises projecting said design onto said base layer using said first spotlight source of illumination, whereby said design is visible from said one side of said panel and a mirror image of said design is visible from the other side of said panel.

45. A panel as claimed in claimed 1, wherein said base pattern comprises a perforated, transparent material.