Illuminated sign

• US 6,240,665 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JJI Lighting Group, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: JJI Lighting Group, Inc. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Filzer, Heinz K., Brown, Tobias A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann, Joanne
• Application Number:
  US09/225,783
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 405/70, 405/72, 362/31, 411/400
• US Class Current: 40/570
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation

Abstract

A thin illuminated sign is described which is formed of two essentially mirror image frame members at least one of which has a central opening therethrough to expose a translucent sign element including signage indicia associated therewith. The frame elements contain mirror image mounting members adapted to support therein a mounting channel for a cold cathode florescent tube along at least one of the edges of the translucent member for projecting light therein.

Claims

1. An illuminated sign comprising first and second frame members;

at least said first frame member having a central opening formed therein;

said first and second frame members each having complementary peripheral edge portions, said first frame member having an inner face surrounding said opening and said second frame member having an inner face portion; and

illuminating means;

said inner face of the first frame member and the inner face portion of the second frame member being complementary and including mirror image mounting means for mounting the illuminating means between the frame members; and

said illuminating means including a support channel;

said mirror image mounting means and channel including cooperating means for mounting the channel between the frame members;

wherein said cooperating means comprise i) projections extending from the inner face and inner face portion of said first and second frame members and ii) recesses in the exterior of said channel dimensioned to frictionally receive said projections;

said channel being mounted between said frames to open towards the opening in said first frame.

2. An illuminated sign as defined in claim, 1 including a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and means for resiliently mounting said lamp within said channel.

3. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 2 wherein said channel includes means for mounting a strip of LED lamps therein.

4. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for resiliently mounting said lamp in said channel comprises a pair of blocks of resilient material shaped to resiliently and releasably clamp said lamp therein.

5. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1 including a translucent panel and a sign film sheet having signage indicia thereon positioned between said frame members whereby light from the illuminating means enters the panel through an edge thereof, and clamp means for clamping said panel and film on one of said frame members.

6. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 5 wherein said clamp means comprises a plurality of rotatable asymmetric flanged clamps pivotally mounted on one of said frames.

7. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1 wherein said second frame member includes a central opening complementary to the central opening in the first frame member.

8. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 7 including a pair of translucent panels and sign films therebetween having signage indicia thereon, said panels and film being positioned between said frame members whereby light from the illuminating means enters the panels through an edge thereof, and clamp means for clamping the panels and films on one of the frame members.

9. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 7 including mounting canopy means for selectively mounting said sign to a ceiling or side wall.

10. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 9 wherein said frame members define a peripheral edge for the sign and said canopy has a recess formed therein which is complementary to and receives said peripheral edge of the sign.

11. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner face and inner face portion of said first and second frame members include mirror image mounting means for mounting electronic controls for the lamp therein.

12. An illuminated sign comprising first and second frame members, at least said first frame member having a central opening formed therein;

said first frame member having an inner face surrounding said opening and said second frame member having an inner peripheral face portion complementary to the inner face of the first frame member; and

illuminating means;

said inner face of the first frame member and the peripheral inner face portion of the second frame member being complementary and including means for engaging the illuminating means and mounting the illuminating means therebetween and means for mounting electronic controls for the illuminating means;

said mounting means for engaging the illuminating means being mirror images of each other;

said means for mounting electronic controls including an L-shaped bracket for supporting one end of a circuit board and at least one resilient snap member for holding the board in the frame members.

13. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 12 wherein said frame members have peripheral mating mirror image edge portions including cooperating resilient snap means for holding the frame members together.

14. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 13 wherein said frame members include cooperating bosses on their peripheral edges for permitting said frame members to be screwed together.

15. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 12 wherein said illuminating means includes a cold cathode fluorescent tube.

16. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 12 including translucent sign means mounted between said frame members in said opening and having a translucent edge portion and wherein said illuminating means is mounted in said frame members along the translucent edge portion of the sign means for illuminating the sign.

17. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 16 wherein said illuminating means includes a generally U-shaped support channel and a light source mounted therein, said channel having a pair of legs defining an opening therebetween and a bight portion, said mirror image mounting means and said legs of the channel including cooperating means for mounting the channel between the frame members with the opening facing the translucent edge portion of the sign means.

18. An illuminated sign comprising first and second frame members;

at least said first frame member having a central opening formed therein;

said first frame member having an inner face surrounding said opening and said second frame member having an inner peripheral face portion complementary to the inner face of the first frame member;

said inner face of the first frame member and the peripheral inner face of the second frame member being complementary and including means for mounting the illuminated means therebetween and means for mounting electronic controls for the illuminating means;

said mounting means being mirror images of each other;

translucent sign means mounted between said frame members in said opening and having a translucent edge portion and wherein said illuminating means is mounted in said frame members along the translucent edge portion of the sign means for illuminating the sign;

said illuminating means including a generally U-shaped support channel and a light source mounted therein, said channel having a pair of legs defining an opening therebetween and a bight portion, said mirror image mounting means and said legs of the channel including cooperating means for mounting the channel between the frame members with the opening of the channel facing the translucent edge portion of the sign means; and

wherein said cooperating means comprise i) projections extending from the inner frame member face of the first frame member and the inner face portion of the second frame member and ii) recesses in the exterior of said channel dimensioned to frictionally receive said projections;

said channel being mounted between said frame members to open towards the opening in said first frame.

19. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 18 including a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and means for resiliently mounting said lamp within said channel.

20. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 18 wherein said channel includes means for mounting a strip of LED lamps therein.

21. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 18 wherein said second frame member includes a central opening complementary to the central opening in the first frame member.

22. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 21 including mounting canopy means for selectively mounting said sign to a ceiling or side wall.

23. An illuminated sign as defined in claim 22 wherein said frame members define a peripheral edge for the sign and said canopy has a recess formed therein which is complementary to and receives said peripheral edge of the sign.