Magnetically attached lighted sign

• US 6,955,455 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd T. Schneider
• Original Assignee: Todd T. Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Todd T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 362/398, 362/806, 362/812, 362/505, 362/506, 362/496, 248/206.5, 401/240.4, 406/00, 406/21, 407/11
• US Class Current: 362/398
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A lighted sign for application to a vehicle surface includes first and second metallic layers with a magnetic plate sandwiched therebetween. The second metallic layer includes a circumference smaller than that of the magnetic plate such that it is pressed against a vehicle surface when the magnetic plate is magnetically adhered thereto. A light source is coupled to the magnetic plate with a positive wire connected to the first metallic layer and a negative wire connected to the second layer such that the light source emits light when the first metallic layer is energized by a vehicle electrical power source and is grounded when the second metallic layer is pressed against the vehicle metallic surface. The magnetic plate and first metallic surface include cutouts so that light may be emitted by the light source therethrough. The lighted sign 10 include a microcontroller and environmental sensors for advanced lighting control.

Claims

1. A lighted sign for application to a surface of a vehicle, said lighted sign comprising:

a first metallic layer;

a second metallic layer;

a magnetic plate for removable magnetic adherence to the vehicle surface, said magnetic plate being sandwiched between said first and second metallic layers for pressing said second metallic layer against the vehicle surface when said magnetic plate is magnetically adhered thereto; and

a light source coupled to said magnetic plate and having a positive wire electrically connected to said first metallic layer and a negative wire electrically connected to said second metallic layer, said positive wire being electrically connected to a vehicle electric power source.

2. The lighted sign as in claim 1 wherein said magnetic plate and said first metallic layer define correspondingly shaped cutouts such that said light source emits light therethrough when energized.

3. The lighted sign as in claim 2 further comprising a translucent layer sandwiched between said magnetic plate and said first metallic layer for diffusing light emitted from said light source.

4. The lighted sign as in claim 3 wherein said translucent layer includes a raised portion extending through said cutout of said first metallic layer.

5. The lighted sign as in claim 2 wherein:

said second metallic layer includes a configuration corresponding to a configuration of respective cutouts of said magnetic plate and said first metallic layer; and

said light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) arranged according to said configuration of said second metallic layer, each LED having an LED negative wire in electrical contact with said second metallic layer.

6. The lighted sign as in claim 5 wherein:

each LED includes an LED positive wire; and

said first metallic layer includes a first portion and a second portion electrically separated from said first portion, said first portion being electrically connected to a first predetermined group of said LED'"'"'s and said second portion being electrically connected to a second predetermined group of said LED'"'"'s for selectively energizing said first and second groups.

7. The lighted sign as in claim 1 wherein said light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s).

8. The lighted sign as in claim 1 further comprising a mounting plate configured for fixed attachment to the vehicle surface, whereby said magnetic plate may be removably and magnetically adhered to said mounting plate with said second metallic layer being pressed against said mounting plate when said magnetic layer is adhered thereto.

9. The lighted sign as in claim 1 further comprising:

a microcontroller electrically connected to said light source;

sensor means for communicating environmental conditions to said microcontroller; and

means in said microcontroller for selectively energizing said light source according to respective environmental conditions.

10. The lighted sign as in claim 1 wherein said first and second metallic layers include a foil construction.

11. A lighted sign for magnetic application to a metallic surface of a vehicle, comprising:

a magnetic plate for magnetic attachment to the vehicle surface, said magnetic plate defining a magnetic plate cutout;

a first metallic layer connected to a front surface of said magnetic plate and defining a first layer cutout corresponding to said magnetic plate cutout, said first metallic layer being electrically connected a vehicle electrical power source;

a second metallic layer connected to a rear surface of said magnetic plate, said second metallic layer having a circumference smaller than a circumference of said magnetic plate such that said second metallic layer is sandwiched between said magnetic plate and the vehicle surface when said magnetic layer is magnetically attached to the vehicle surface; and

a plurality of LED'"'"'s coupled to said magnetic plate, each LED having a positive and negative wire, each positive wire being electrically connected to said first metallic layer and each negative wire being electrically connected to said second metallic layer such that said plurality of LED'"'"'s are illuminated and grounded when said positive layer is energized and said magnetic plate is magnetically attached to the vehicle surface.

12. The lighted sign as in claim 11 wherein said first metallic layer includes a first portion and a second portion electrically separated from said first portion, said first portion being electrically connected to a first group of said LED'"'"'s and said second portion being electrically connected to a second group of said LED'"'"'s for selectively energizing said first and second groups.

13. The lighted sign as in claim 12 further comprising:

a microcontroller electrically connected to said light source;

sensor means for communicating environmental conditions to said microcontroller;

means in said microcontroller for selectively energizing said plurality of LED'"'"'s according to respective environmental conditions; and

means in said microcontroller for selectively energizing said first and second portions of said magnetic plate.

14. The lighted sign as in claim 12 wherein said first group of said LED'"'"'s positive wires are electrically connected to a first vehicle electrical power source and said second group of LED'"'"'s are electrically connected to a second vehicle electrical power source.

15. The lighted sign as in claim 11 wherein said first metallic layer includes a first metallic layer cutout having a configuration substantially similar to a configuration of said magnetic plate cutout such that said plurality of LED'"'"'s emit light therethrough when energized.

16. The lighted sign as in claim 15 further comprising a translucent layer sandwiched between said magnetic plate and said first metallic layer for diffusing light emitted from said plurality of LED'"'"'s.

17. The lighted sign as in claim 16 wherein said translucent layer includes a raised portion extending through said cutout of said first metallic layer.

18. The lighted sign as in claim 11 further comprising a mounting plate configured for fixed attachment to the vehicle surface, whereby said magnetic plate may be removably and magnetically adhered to said mounting plate with said second metallic layer being pressed against said mounting plate when said magnetic layer is adhered thereto.

19. The lighted sign as in claim 11 further comprising:

a microcontroller electrically connected to said light source;

sensor means for communicating environmental conditions to said microcontroller; and

means in said microcontroller for selectively energizing said plurality of LED'"'"'s according to respective environmental conditions.

20. The lighted sign as in claim 19 wherein said environmental sensors are a light sensor, acceleration sensor, and a proximity sensor.