Reflector with illuminated indicia

Claim 1

A reflector having selectively illuminatable indicia which is readable in both its illuminated and non-illuminated states, comprising: a translucent sheet-like material (1) having front and rear surfaces and reflecting elements (2) on at least a portion of at least one of said front and rear surfaces; means defining indicia on a rear surface portion of said translucent sheet-like material (1); reflecting material on said reflecting elements, but not on said indicia defining means; a dark, translucent, material (6) adjacent the indicia defining means on the rear surface portion of said translucent sheet-like material (1); translucent diffusing material (7) adjacent said dark translucent material (6) and located more remote from said translucent sheet-like material (1) than said dark translucent material (6); and a selectively energizable light source located behind said translucent diffusing material for selectively illuminating said indicia of said translucent sheet-like material (1), said indicia appearing dark in color when viewed from the front of said translucent sheet-like material (1) and when not illuminated by said light source, and said indicia appearing substantially the same color as said translucent sheet-like material (1) when viewed from the front of said translucent sheet-like material and when illuminated by said light source.