Reflective signage

• US 6,845,580 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovision Sports Marketing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovision Sports Marketing, Inc.
• Inventors: Noble, Christopher D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/973,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 405/82, 359/2
• US Class Current: 40/582
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects

Abstract

A sign comprising at least one support member and a body portion attached to the support member. The sign includes at least one reflective layer secured to the body portion. The sign includes at least one optically transmissive layer secured to the reflective layer such that the reflective layer is positioned between the optically transmissive layer and the body portion. The optically transmissive layer defines an interior portion, a border encompassing the interior portion, and at least one message positioned at least partially within the interior portion. The interior portion and the border comprise contrasting colors. The reflective layer is structured to reflect light through the optically transmissive layer to augment the contrast between the interior portion and the border to thereby enhance the visibility of the message.

Claims

1. A sign, comprising:

at least one support member;

a body portion, said body portion being attached to said at least one support member for positioning said body portion at a predetermined elevation;

at least one reflective layer at least partially secured to said body portion, said at least one reflective layer comprising a polyester hologram foil and defining a holographic pattern; and

at least one optically transmissive layer at least partially secured to said at least one reflective layer such that said at least one reflective layer is at least partially positioned between said at least one optically transmissive layer and said body portion, said at least one optically transmissive layer defining an interior portion, a border encompassing said interior portion, and at least one message positioned at least partially within said interior portion, said interior portion and said border comprising contrasting colors, and wherein said at least one reflective layer is structured to reflect light through said at least one optically transmissive layer to augment the contrast between said interior portion and said border to thereby enhance the visibility of said message.

2. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said body portion is formed of polypropylene.

3. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said body portion has a configuration selected from the group consisting of a circle, an oval, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a nonagon, a decagon, a motor vehicle, a football, a football helmet, a bottle, a numeric character, and an alphabetic character.

4. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said pattern of said at least one reflective layer comprises a plurality of characters selected from the group consisting of numeric characters and alphabetic characters.

5. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one reflective layer defines a broken-glass pattern.

6. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one reflective layer defines a box pattern.

7. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one reflective layer defines a circular pattern.

8. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said message comprises at least one graphic design, numeric character, and alphabetic character.

9. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one support member defines a curved portion for frictionally engaging said body portion.

10. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one support member defines a wire-like member.

11. A sign according to claim 1 wherein said at least one optically transmissive layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyester and polypropylene.