US3665626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exit sign with adjustable indicia
Assignee: MARKSTONE Manufacturing CO
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Filing: 1970-03-03
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A visual indicator, such as an exit sign, having a display panel which is a closure for the front of a housing containing a light source. The panel includes means for providing both a first transmitting visual image such as the word ''''Exit,'''' and an area for a second light transmitting visual image such as an arrow. A mask-like means is mounted on the panel for movement between a plurality of positions, and has a plurality of visually different images which can be selectively registered with the second image area providing different second images. The panel and mask-like means have releasable means, accessible only when the panel is at least partially removed from the housing, to fix the mask-like means in each of the plurality of positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin R Lund
- 👤 Jack Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:14
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/0418; G09F13/045; G09F13/06; G09F7/00; G09F2013/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A visual indicator for the front of a housing containing a light source, said indicator comprising, in combination: a display panel, said panel including means providing a first light transmitting visual image and providing an area for a second light transmitting visual image which is related to the first, so that light from said source passes through said first image and through said area; adjustable mask-like means mounted on the panel for movement between a plurality of positions, said mask-like means having a plurality of visually different light transmitting images which are selectively registrable with the second visual image area in different ones of said plurality of positions to provide different second visual images through which light from the source passes; and releasable means located both on the panel and on the adjustable mask-like means which cooperate to lock said latter means in each of said plurality of positions, said releasable means and said adjustable mask-like means being accessible for the purpose of unlocking and adjusting said mask-like means and changing said second visual image only when the panel is disassociated from the light source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A visual indicator for the front of a housing containing a light source, said indicator comprising, in combination: a display panel, said panel including means providing a first light transmitting visual image and providing an area for a second light transmitting visual image which is related to the first, so that light from said source passes through said first image and through said area; adjustable mask-like means mounted on the panel for movement between a plurality of positions, said mask-like means having a plurality of visually different light transmitting images which are selectively registrable with the second visual image area in different ones of said plurality of positions to provide different second visual images through which light from the source passes; and releasable means located both on the panel and on the adjustable mask-like means which cooperate to lock said latter means in each of said plurality of positions, said releasable means and said adjustable mask-like means being accessible for the purpose of unlocking and adjusting said mask-like means and changing said second visual image only when the panel is disassociated from the light source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The visual indicator of claim 1 in which the display panel is a closure for a housing which has an open front.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The visual indicator of claim 2 in which said closure includes a frame which covers the open front of said housing and a light transmitting plate releasably seated in said frame, and in which the mask-like means is of opaque material with the visually different images being defined by openings in the mask-like means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A visual indicator of claim 3 in which the mask-like means is located between said frame and said light transmitting plate for movement between said plurality of positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The visual indicator of claim 4 in which said mask-like means comprises a single plate, and in which said releasable means comprises a projecting tab on said frame and a plurality of openings in said single plate, each of said openings being adapted to interengage with said tab to secure said single plate to said frame in one of said plurality of positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
The visual indicator of claim 1 in which said panel has two spaced second visual image areas, and in which the mask-like means has a plurality of pairs of images with the images in each pair spaced apart by a distance equal to the space between the second visual image areas so as to be simultaneously registered with said areas, there being a first pair of identical images and a second pair of identical images which are different from said first pair, and each of said pairs being registered with the visual image areas in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The visual indicator of claim 6 in which the mask-like means includes a third pair of images of which one is identical with the images of the first pair and the other is identical with the images of the second pair, and in which said third pair of images are registered with the visual image areas in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The visual indicator of claim 7 in which the mask-like means is an opaque plate, and in which the plate has openings defining the pairs of images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The visual indicator of claim 8 in which the releasable means is constructed and arranged to fix the mask-like means with no openings registered with the second image areas in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means, so as to blank out the second visual images in said one of said positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The visual indicator of claim 6 in which the mask-like means includes opaque areas, and in which thE releasable means is constructed and arranged to fix the mask-like means with said opaque areas registered with the visual image areas to blank out the latter in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The visual indicator of claim 6 which is an exit sign, the first visual image is the word EXIT, the first pair of identical images define arrows pointing to the left and the second pair of identical images define arrows pointing to the right.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The visual indicator of claim 11 in which the mask-like means includes a third pair of images with one image of said third pair defining an arrow pointing to the left and the second image of said third pair defining an arrow pointing to the right.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The visual indicator of claim 12 in which the mask-like means includes opaque areas, and in which the releasable means is constructed and arranged to fix the mask-like means with said opaque areas registered with the visual image areas to blank out the latter in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The visual indicator of claim 1 which is an exit sign, the first visual image is the word EXIT, and the mask-like means has a first image which is an arrow pointing to the left and a second image which is an arrow pointing to the right.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The visual indicator of claim 14 in which the mask-like means has a third image which includes arrows pointing to the left and to the right.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The visual indicator of claim 15 in which the mask-like means includes an opaque area, and in which the releasable means is constructed and arranged to fix the mask-like means with said opaque area registered with the second visual image area to blank out the latter in one of the plurality of positions of the mask-like means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The visual indicator of claim 1 in which the adjustable mask-like means comprises a plate, and in which the releasable means comprises a projecting tab on the display panel and a plurality of openings in the plate, each of said openings being adapted to interengage with said tab to secure said plate to said panel in one of said plurality of positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |