US4385343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Edge lighted devices
Assignee: HENSLEY HERALD N
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Filing: 1979-11-30
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Granted: 1983-05-24
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Expires: 1999-11-30
Abstract
Abstract Improved edge lighted devices incorporate one or more light transmitting body assemblies of unique design, resulting in superior performance from both brightness and energy efficiency standpoints. Techniques for obtaining advantageous light transmitting body surface treatment are disclosed. Also disclosed are arrangements for reducing the amount of material utilized for the light transmitting body.
Inventors
- 👤 George W. Plumly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0015; G02B6/002; G02B6/0021; G02B6/0033; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0036; G02B6/004; G02B6/0043; G02B6/0045; G02B6/0046; G02B6/0075; G02B6/0076; G02B6/0058; G02B6/006; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/18; G09F2013/1804; G09F2013/1827; G09F2013/1831
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in abutting relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in abutting relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said backing material is secured to said second face surface by means of an optically clear adhesive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in spaced relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in spaced relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said light source is a fluorescent tube having diameter D and said light transmitting body has a maximum thickness within the range of 1/8 to 1/2 D.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the spacing between said backing material and said light transmitting body adjacent the light transmitting body maximum thickness is approximately D less the maximum thickness of said light transmitting body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed to reflect light emanating from said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each having myriad facets randomly disposed; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed to reflect light emanating from said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in abutting relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in abutting relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed to reflect light emanating from said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed to reflect light emanating from said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in spaced relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
An edge lighted device comprising: a. a light transmitting body of clear transparent plastic material having a light egress face surface, a second face surface opposite said light egress face surface, at least one light ingress edge surface and at least one light reflecting edge surface; i. said light egress face surface and said second face surface each being roughened so as to enhance light egress therefrom; ii. backing material having a flat white surface disposed in spaced relation to said second face surface; b. light source means disposed in illuminating relation to said light ingress edge surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said light source is a fluorescent tube having diameter D and said light transmitting body has a maximum thickness within the range of 1/8 to 1/2 D.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the spacing between said backing material and said light transmitting body adjacent the light transmitting body maximum thickness is approximately D less the maximum thickness of said light transmitting body.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
35 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second surface are each characterized by a surface roughening such as that obtained by roughening with a "flapper wheel".
Claim 19
Independent Claim
26 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second face surface have been roughened with a "flapper wheel".
Claim 20
Independent Claim
22 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein there is translucent indicia disposed in abutting relation to said light egress surface.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
83 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second face surface have been roughened by the process comprising the steps of: a. rotating a "flapper wheel" at an appropriate speed; b. producing relative linear motion between the "flapper wheel" and the surface being roughened, with the "flapper wheel" rotational axis being substantially parallel to and spaced from said surface being roughened such that peripheral edge portions of the "flapper wheel" strike said surface being roughened.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
108 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second surface have been roughened by the process comprising the steps of: a. traversing a single cutting point relative to the surface being roughened with the cutting point radius being within the range of greater than "sharp" and less than 1/32 inches; with the maximum penetration of the cutting point into the surface being roughened being within the range of 5 thousandths to 100 thousandths inches; with a predetermined overlap of adjacent cuts that will result in a groove depth within the range of 1/56 to 1/14 times the cutting point radius.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
128 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second surface have been roughened by the process comprising the steps of: a. rotating a single cutting point relative to the surface being roughened so that the cutting point contacts the surface being roughened during less than 180° of each single cutting point revolution; with the cutting point radius being within the range of greater than "sharp" and less than 1/32 inches; with the maximum penetration of the cutting point into the surface being roughened being within the range of 5 thousandths to 100 thousandths inches; with a predetermined overlap of adjacent cuts that will result in a groove depth within the range of 1/56 to 1/14 times the cutting point radius.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
124 words
The device of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said light egress face surface and said second surface have been roughened by the process comprising the steps of: 1. rotating a single cutting point relative to the surface being roughened so that the cutting point contacts the surface being roughened during less than 180° of each single cutting point revolution; with the cutting point radius being within the range of 1/128 to 3/128 inches; with the maximum penetration of the cutting point into the surface being roughened being within the range of 5 thousandths to 50 thousandths inches; with a predetermined overlap of adjacent cuts that will result in a groove depth within the range of 3/112 to 6/112 times the cutting point radius.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4059916A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-23 | 1986-11-22 | 1987-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-23 | 1990-11-22 | 1991-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-23 | 1994-11-22 | 1995-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |