Illuminated vehicular sign

• US 8,585,263 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Original Assignee: Michael Shipman
• Inventors: Shipman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US13/385,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/97.3, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/479, 362/496, 362/540, 362/555, 362612-613, 362/800, 362/183, 362/227, 362/232, 362/238, 362/240, 362/243, 362/493, 362542-546, 362/802, 362/812, 40541-544, 40550-553, 405/56, 405/91, 340/6.1, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/902
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• 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 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/225 with electroluminescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles

Abstract

An illuminated vehicular sign is provided including a vehicle and luminescent planar sheet. The luminescent planar sheet is constructed to provide illuminated alpha-numeric characters which are mounted to the horizontal planar surfaces of a vehicle. The alpha-numeric characters are mounted substantially horizontally so as to be seen from the air such as by helicopters or planes.

Claims

1. An illuminated vehicular sign comprising:

a vehicle having four or more wheels, the vehicle having at least one substantially horizontal planar surface in the form of a hood surface, cabin roof surface, or trunk surface;

one or more luminescent planar sheets mounted upon said horizontal planar surface, said one or more luminescent planar sheets constructed to provide luminescent indicia in the form of one or more letters or numbers which face upwardly so as to be seen from above, said luminescent planar sheets are constructed to selectively illuminate in a plurality of different colors and said plurality of different color includes infrared;

a power source for providing power to the one or more luminescent planar sheets; and

a switching system electrically connected to said one or more luminescent planar sheets and said power source for selectively controlling the transfer of power from said power source to said one or more luminescent planar sheets, and for allowing a person to select from said plurality of colors produced by said luminescent planar sheets including the selection of infrared.

2. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said one or more luminescent planar sheets are electro-luminescent panels wherein said luminescent planar sheets can display infrared light.

3. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said one or more luminescent planar sheets comprise one or more light pipes connected to light emitting diodes (LEDs) wherein said LEDs can display infrared light.

4. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said switching system is mounted so as to be easily controllable by a driver.

5. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said letters or numbers have a length of at least 18 inches.

6. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said letters or numbers have a length of 18 inches to 48 inches.

7. The illuminated vehicular sign of claim 1 wherein said one or more luminescent planar sheets and said switching system are capable of making said luminescent indicia to strobe, and said switching system allows one to selectively activate or deactivate the strobing indicia.