Lighted signage using reflected light behind the signage

• US 7,827,712 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen P. Hines
• Original Assignee: Stephen P. Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/150,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 404/53, 404/54, 404/43, 352/100
• US Class Current: 40/453
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2019/221 on tunnel walls for underground trains

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer moving along a path of travel past a viewing display, comprising:

a viewing box;

a transparent video display for displaying a first and a second transparent image;

a substantially vertical light source located in the viewing box behind the first and second transparent images, relative to the viewer;

a first curved reflector about a vertical axis in a convex shape for providing substantially vertical reflected light from the substantially vertical light source of narrow width relative to the first transparent image, said first reflector being located in the viewing box behind the first transparent image, relative to the viewer;

a second curved reflector about a vertical axis in a convex shape for providing substantially vertical reflected light from the substantially vertical light source of narrow width relative to the second transparent image, said second reflector being located in the viewing box behind the first transparent image, relative to the viewer; and

wherein light from the substantially vertical light source is blocked from directly illuminating either the first or the second transparent images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transparent video display is an LCD video display.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the substantially vertical reflected light provided to the first and the second reflectors has a width of approximately one column of pixels of the LCD video display.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the substantially vertical light source is comprised of a column of light emitting diodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substantially vertical light source is a fluorescent lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the convex shape is a cylindrical shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second reflectors are selected from the group consisting of a reflective rod, a reflective tube and a rounded shape stamped in a reflective sheet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second reflectors are spaced equidistant from the substantially vertical light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only one bright reflection appears behind each of the first and second transparent images.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a baffle placed between the first and second reflectors to prevent secondary reflections.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a baffle located between the substantially vertical light source and the first and second transparent images.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the baffle is an opaque black baffle.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the viewing displays aligned parallel to a path of travel with the plurality of transparent images so as to create an effect of moving images as the viewer moves past the plurality of the viewing displays.

14. A method for displaying a back-lighted image to one or more viewers moving along a path of travel past a viewing display, comprising the steps of:

placing a viewing box with a transparent video display for displaying a first and a second transparent image parallel to the path of travel; and

illuminating the first and second transparent images with a reflected light reflected off of a curved reflector about a vertical axis in a convex shape, said reflected light being located in the viewing box behind the video display, relative to the viewer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transparent video display is an LCD video display.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reflected light has a width of approximately one column of pixels of the LCD video display.

17. A method for displaying a back-lighted image to one or more viewers moving along a path of travel past a viewing display, comprising the steps of:

placing a viewing box with an LCD video display for displaying a first and a second transparent image parallel to the path of travel; and

illuminating each of the first and second transparent images with a light having a width of approximately one column of pixels of the LCD video display, said light being located in the viewing box behind the LCD video display, relative to the viewer.

18. The method of 16, wherein each of the first and second transparent images is illuminated by a column of light emitting diodes.