Illuminated message sign with angled light emitting device array

• US 6,783,258 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Signal Company
• Original Assignee: American Signal Company
• Inventors: Ryan, Patrick Henry Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/188,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 362/238, 362/245, 362/249-252, 362/545, 362/800, 362/227, 362/382, 257/99
• US Class Current: 362/249.03
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10484 Obliquely mounted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A portable message sign having a housing and a front surface angled with respect to a rear surface and an array of light emitting devices (such as LEDs) being angled so that the LEDs are parallel to the horizon. The LEDs are mounted at an angle to a printed circuit board (PCB), which is mounted between the front and rear surfaces. In one embodiment, the pins of the LEDs are of different lengths so that when mounted to the PCB the lens of the LED directs light at an angle with respect to the PCB. In another embodiment, a strip of hard material is laid down next to the holes in the PCB that through mount LEDs are inserted, which cause the LED to mount at an angle.

Claims

1. A message sign, comprising:

a) a rear surface;

b) a front surface;

c) a printed circuit board (PCB) generally parallel to said front surface;

d) at least one light emitting device associated with said printed circuit board wherein said light emitting device has at least two pins for mounting to or through said PCB; and

,

e) means associated with said at least one light emitting device for positioning said at least one light emitting device at an angle with respect to said printed circuit board, said positioning means comprising at least one raised surface of a portion of said PCB over which at least a portion of said light emitting device is positioned such that said raised surface, wherein said raised surface is an epoxy adhesive deposited on said PCB in a stripe across a given length of said PCB.

2. The message sign of claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting device comprises a plurality of light emitting devices, each device having a pair of pins extending therefrom, said PCB having a plurality of spaced apart apertures defined therein arranged in pairs of apertures such that each pair of said apertures can receive said pair of pins, said at least one dot comprising a dot for each pair of apertures, said dot being located at a predetermined location with respect to said pair of apertures such that when said pins of said light emitting device are inserted into said pair of apertures, said dot causes said light emitting device to be angled with respect to said PCB, and said dot causing said angle to be different depending where said dot is located with respect to said pair of apertures, such that two adjacent light emitting diodes are angled differently with respect to each other.

3. A message sign, comprising:

a) a rear surface;

b) a front surface;

c) a printed circuit board (PCB) generally parallel to said front surface;

d) at least one light emitting device associated with said printed circuit board, said light emitting device has at least two pins for mounting to or through said PCB; and

,

e) means associated with said at least one light emitting device for positioning said at least one light emitting device at an angle with respect to said printed circuit board, said positioning means comprising at least one raised surface of a portion of said PCB over which at least a portion of said light emitting device is positioned such that said raised surface, wherein said raised surface is an epoxy adhesive deposited on said PCB in at least one dot proximate to at least one opening defined in said PCB through which pins of said light emitting device can be inserted such that said light emitting device is maintained at an angle with respect to said PCB.

4. The message sign of claim 3, wherein at least two adjacent said light emitting devices each have a half power angle that partially overlap such that the combined half power angle is greater than the individual half power angles.

5. A message sign, comprising:

a) a rear surface;

b) a front surface;

c) a printed circuit board (PCB) generally parallel to said front surface;

d) at least one light emitting device associated with said printed circuit board, said light emitting device having at least two pins for mounting to or through said PCB; and

,

e) means associated with said at least one light emitting device for positioning said at least one light emitting device at an angle with respect to said printed circuit board, wherein said positioning means comprising at least one raised surface of a portion of said PCB over which at least a portion of said light emitting device is positioned such that said raised surface, and wherein said at least one raised surface comprises two generally parallel stripes associated with said PCB, one of said stripes being higher that the other said stripe, said light emitting device being mounted on said two stripes such that said light emitting device is angled with respect to said PCB.