Illuminated LED street sign

• US 7,101,056 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pare, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/644,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 362217-218, 362/249, 362/223, 362/235, 362/812, 362190-191, 405/72, 405/70, 405/41
• US Class Current: 362/190
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

An illuminated street sign illuminated by LEDs. A light engine comprising a light engine carrier, at least one LED, a heat sink and optionally a reflector and/or lens system is used to illuminate a street sign. The light engine can be retrofit into existing illuminated street signs after removal of the fluorescent tube, attached to the interior of conventional housings or be integrally formed with the housing of an illuminated sign. A pair of light engines are mounted in the housing at an angle to direct the light to the opposite side panel. Each light engine has a reflector. An additional reflector can be mounted n the base of the housing.

Claims

1. A carrier for a light engine comprising:

a mounting surface residing on a first side;

said mounting surface having a first support arm, a second support arm and a contoured projection extending longitudinally, said contoured projection is adapted to contact a housing; and

an optic surface residing on a second side;

said optic surface having a central channel, a pair of sidewalls, and a pair of tracks in which a PCB having at least one LED is slidably mounted.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier is made of extruded aluminum.

3. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a reflector.

4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein the reflector has at least one aperature, said aperature aligned with at least one LED.

5. The carrier of claim 3 further comprising at least one clip, said clip connecting the reflector to the carrier.

6. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls are shaped to reflect the light.

7. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a reflective coating on at least a portion of the carrier.

8. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising at least one lens.

9. The carrier of claim 3 further comprising at least one lens.

10. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a light engine mounted on said optic surface.

11. The carrier of claim 10 wherein the light engine comprises at least one printed circuit board and at least one light emitting diode mounted on at least one printed circuit board.

12. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first support arm is adapted to be supported by a horizontal ledge in the housing.

13. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first support arm is horizontal and the optic surface is angled 34 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical.

14. The carrier of claim 13 wherein the optic surface is angled about 39 degrees from vertical.

15. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the first support arm runs the length of the carrier.

16. The carrier of claim 12 wherein the second support arm runs the length of the carrier.

17. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the contoured projection is adapted to dissipate heat to the housing.

18. The carrier of claim 1 wherein there is significant contact between the housing and the contoured projection.

19. The carrier of claim 18 wherein the contoured projection has the substantially same contour as the housing at the areas where the contoured projection and the housing are in contact.

20. The carrier of claim 11 further comprising at least two pcbs, said pcbs connected in series by at least one jumper.

21. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the second support arm is adapted to attach to a top of the housing.

22. The carrier of claim 21 wherein the second support arm is adapted to mechanically attach to the top of the housing.

23. The carrier of claim 11 wherein the first support arm is adapted to be supported by a horizontal ledge in the housing.

24. The carrier of claim 11 wherein the first support arm is horizontal and the optic surface is angled between 34 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical.

25. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the first support arm is horizontal and the optic surface is angled between 34 degrees and 45 degrees from vertical.

26. The carrier of claim 24 wherein the optic surface is angled about 39 degrees from vertical.

27. The carrier of claim 13 wherein the first support arm runs the length of the carrier.

28. The carrier of claim 27 wherein the second support arm runs the length of the carrier.

29. The carrier of claim 27 wherein there is significant contact between the housing and the contoured projection.

30. The carrier of claim 29 wherein the contoured projection has the substantially same contour as the housing at the areas where the contoured projection and the housing are in contact.

31. The carrier of claim 30 wherein the contoured projection is adapted to dissipate heat to the housing.

32. The carrier of claim 29 wherein the second support arm is adapted to attach to a top of the housing.