Illuminated assemblies and methods of manufacture thereof

• US 9,741,273 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent M. Curtis, Jeffrey A. Curtis
• Original Assignee: Brent M. Curtis, Jeffrey A. Curtis
• Inventors: Curtis, Jeffrey A., Curtis, Brent M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US15/426,176
• Time in Patent Office: 196 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0236 the diffusion taking place within the volume of the element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign

Abstract

An illuminated assembly includes a substrate that is rigid so as to maintain a shape, the substrate having a first terminal surface and a second terminal surface. The assembly includes at least one channel defined into the substrate, the at least one channel having: an exposed portion defined on the first terminal surface of the substrate to define an indicia for display, a base portion defined between the first and second terminal surfaces of the substrate, and two channel walls extending from the exposed portion to the base portion. The assembly includes at least one light source between the exposed portion and the base portion of the at least one channel. The assembly includes a compound defined in an intermediate portion of the at least one channel, the intermediate portion extending from the at least one light source to the two channel walls, the exposed portion, and the base portion.

Claims

1. An illuminated assembly comprising:

a substrate that is rigid so as to maintain a shape, the substrate having a first terminal surface and a second terminal surface;

at least one channel defined into the substrate, the at least one channel having an exposed portion defined on the first terminal surface of the substrate to define an indicia for display,

a base portion defined between the first and second terminal surfaces of the substrate, two channel walls extending from the exposed portion to the base portion;

at least one light source between the exposed portion and the base portion of the at least one channel; and

a compound defined in an intermediate portion of the at least one channel, the intermediate portion extending from the two channel walls, the exposed portion, and the base portion to the at least one light source.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the compound diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the substrate reflects light emanating from the at least one light source.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the substrate diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources spaced equidistantly apart.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources electrically coupled to one another.

7. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a power source coupled to the plurality of light sources.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery housed within the substrate.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one light source can be programmed to emit a plurality of colors.

11. An illuminated assembly comprising:

a substrate that is rigid so as to maintain a shape to define an indicia for display, the substrate having a first terminal surface and a second terminal surface;

at least one channel defined into the substrate, the at least one channel having an exposed portion defined on the first terminal surface of the substrate,

a base portion defined between the first and second terminal surfaces of the substrate, two channel walls extending from the exposed portion to the base portion;

at least one light source between the exposed portion and the base portion of the at least one channel; and

a compound defined in an intermediate portion of the at least one channel, the intermediate portion extending from the two channel walls, the exposed portion, and the base portion to the at least one light source.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the compound diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the substrate reflects light emanating from the at least one light source.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the substrate diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources spaced equidistantly apart.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources electrically coupled to one another.

17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one light source can be programmed to emit a plurality of colors.

19. A method of manufacturing an illuminated assembly comprising:

forming at least one channel into a substrate that is rigid so as to maintain a shape, wherein the at least one channel comprises;

an exposed portion defined on a first terminal surface of the substrate,

a base portion defined between the first terminal surface and a second terminal surface of the substrate,

two channel walls extending from the exposed portion to the base portion;

placing at least one light source between the exposed portion and base portion of the at least one channel; and

pouring a liquid compound into an intermediate portion of the at least one channel, the intermediate portion extending from the two channel walls, the exposed portion, and the base portion to the at least one light source.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the compound diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the substrate reflects light emanating from the at least one light source.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the substrate diffuses light emanating from the at least one light source.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

electrically coupling the plurality of light sources to one another.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

coupling the plurality of light sources to a rechargeable power source housed within the substrate.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of light sources are spaced equidistantly apart.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one light source can be programmed to emit a plurality of colors.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

curing the liquid compound into a solid state.