US3680237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Outdoor illuminated signs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-30
•
Granted: 1972-08-01
•
Expires: 1991-04-30
Abstract
Abstract The outdoor illuminated sign is composed of a front transparent plate, a rear backing plate, a masking material between such plates providing opaque and transparent areas forming sign indicia, an electroluminescent lamp panel between such masking material and the back plate, and means sealing the edges of said sign against moisture entering between the plates, masking material and lamp panel and holding them together as a complete, stable, weatherproof unit.
Inventors
- 👤 John Gerard Finnerty Sr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:50
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/20; G09F13/22; G09F2013/227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An illuminated sign comprising a front transparent plate, a rear backing plate, said backing plate having at least one aperture extending therethrough, an electroluminescent panel adjacent to the front surface of said backing plate and between the latter and said front plate, indicia disposed between said electroluminescent panel and said front plate, said indicia having opaque and transparent areas defining a sign, a pair of electric wires extending through said at least one aperture of said backing plate into connection with said electroluminescent panel, said electric wires being sheathed in a weatherproof material, said backing plate having an means projecting rearwardly therefrom for overlying and protecting the connected ends of said wires against weather at their place of entry through said backing plate, and means extending continuously around the edges of said sign for both sealing the edges of said sign against moisture entering between said plates and holding said plates and luminescent panel in assembled relation as a complete, stable, weatherproof unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
An illuminated sign comprising a front transparent plate, a rear backing plate, said backing plate having at least one aperture extending therethrough, an electroluminescent panel adjacent to the front surface of said backing plate and between the latter and said front plate, indicia disposed between said electroluminescent panel and said front plate, said indicia having opaque and transparent areas defining a sign, a pair of electric wires extending through said at least one aperture of said backing plate into connection with said electroluminescent panel, said electric wires being sheathed in a weatherproof material, said backing plate having an means projecting rearwardly therefrom for overlying and protecting the connected ends of said wires against weather at their place of entry through said backing plate, and means extending continuously around the edges of said sign for both sealing the edges of said sign against moisture entering between said plates and holding said plates and luminescent panel in assembled relation as a complete, stable, weatherproof unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1, in which the outer edge portions of said front and backing plates are connected together by said sealing and holding means, and within the area defined by such means are constructed to form a chamber in which is located said electroluminous unit panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1, in which the outer edge portions of said front and backing plates are constituted of plastic material and the opposed surfaces thereof are welded together by said sealing and holding means, said sealing and holding means being constituted of melted plastic material and being located between said plate edge portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 3, in which the outer edge portions of said front and backing plates have a plurality of fastening holes extending therethrough, and in which said seAling and holding means is constituted of a continuous band of plastic material having circular portions enclosing said fastening holes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 3, in which said sealing and holding material is constituted of a plurality of spaced bands of plastic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1, in which said protecting means comprises a projection on the rear surface of said backing plate and having top, side and rear walls covering the place of entry of s said electric wires through said backing plate and provided on its bottom side with an opening for the wires to said covered place of entry.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 6, in which said protecting means includes sealing material within said projection to hold and seal said wires in the same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 6, in which said backing plate is provided with two holes through which the wires extend, and in which said projection is provided with an interior partition between said two holes and parallel to the side walls of said projection, the inner surface of said projection top wall being substantially flush with the top edge portions of said holes and the inner surfaces of said side walls and the side surfaces of said partition being substantially flush with the side edge portions of said holes, whereby said top, side and rear walls and said partition of said projection form guideways for the wires from said opening and into said holes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 6, in which the inner surface of said backing plate is provided with two elongated recesses extending from said place of entry for receiving the exposed ends of said wires so that the latter are substantially flush with said backing plate inner surface, the rear side of said electroluminescent panel engaging the exposed wire portions in said recesses and maintaining them in position therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 9, in which one of said exposed wire ends is electrically connected to the rear surface of said luminescent panel, and in which said luminescent panel is provided on its rear surface with a contact plate in engagement with the other of said exposed wire ends, means for insulating said contact plate from the rear surface of said luminescent panel, and means supporting said contact plate on said luminescent panel and electrically connecting it to a bus bar provided on the front of said luminescent panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 6, including a plurality of spacer members projecting from the rear surface of said backing plate and each having a depth equal to the depth of said projection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 11, in which the outer edge portions of said front and backing plates have two fastening holes extending therethrough and through two of said spacer members, the outers of said spacer members being solid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 1, wherein said indicia comprises a masking material between said electroluminescent panel and said front plate providing opaque and transparent areas forming sign indicia, said masking material being composed of a plurality of pieces of pressure adhesive plastic film material, each of said pieces being adhered to the front surface of said electroluminescent panel and having an opaque background and a transparent area forming a portion of the sign indicia.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US899329A
Cited
US2104280A
Cited
US2716298A
Cited
US3212080A
Cited
US3404474A
Cited
US3545110A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |