US4994941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sign of character and figure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-01-03
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Granted: 1991-02-19
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Expires: 2009-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A sign of character and figure which, in addition to using the AC power supply, is particularly suitable for use with a solar energy means, comprising a solar cell for supplying the electrical energy converted from the solar energy; a battery means for receiving the electrical energy from the solar cell and supplying the stored electrical energy; a circuit means for automatically illuminating the character and figure display in the dark; a lighting means comprising a light bulb or light emitting diode as the light source; a very thin refracting plate wound within the body, the outer surface thereof having strips which are serrated at right angle and the inner surface being a smooth face through which the light from the light source is refracted into extremely uniform light rays to be emitted from the outer surface; the body comprising on the surface a figure display having a plurality of figures, each being composed of seven segments of " ", the desired figure being produced by means of strip shaped shades, and the body further comprising a character display with dots arranged in matrix, each dot comprising a large and a small holes with a " " shaped shade disposed therebetween for producing the desired character.
Inventors
- 👤 Hung-Sheng Wen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:57
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0036; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G02B6/0031; G02B6/0066; G02B6/0068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A display for displaying figures and characters, comprising: a power supply; a lighting arrangement body; a light source, powered by the power supply, disposed on one end of the lighting arrangement body; a reflecting mirror disposed on the other end of the lighting arrangement body for reflecting light from the light source; a parabolic mirror disposed such that the light source is positioned at the focus thereof and such that light from the light source is reflected and emitted parallel into the body; display means for displaying figures and characters; a transparent rectangular cover plate pressing on the display means; and a thin refractive plate of arcuate cross-section provided within the lighting arrangement body, and outer surface thereof below the display means having a multiplicity of parallel strips each being serrated at 90 degrees and disposed parallel to light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for light from the light source to be multi-reflected to product uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the figures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A display for displaying figures and characters, comprising: a power supply; a lighting arrangement body; a light source, powered by the power supply, disposed on one end of the lighting arrangement body; a reflecting mirror disposed on the other end of the lighting arrangement body for reflecting light from the light source; a parabolic mirror disposed such that the light source is positioned at the focus thereof and such that light from the light source is reflected and emitted parallel into the body; display means for displaying figures and characters; a transparent rectangular cover plate pressing on the display means; and a thin refractive plate of arcuate cross-section provided within the lighting arrangement body, and outer surface thereof below the display means having a multiplicity of parallel strips each being serrated at 90 degrees and disposed parallel to light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for light from the light source to be multi-reflected to product uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the figures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
214 words
A figure display, comprising: a power supply; a body; a light source disposed on one end of said body element; a reflecting mirror disposed on the other end of the of the lighting means for reflecting body light from the light source; a parabolic mirror, the light being disposed at the focus of the parabolic mirror such that the light for the light source is reflected and emitted parallelly into the body; a plurality of "8" shaped figures, each being composed of seven segments of which each is provided with a flange on either side, the inner surface thereof being corrugated in shape for the light to be multireflected; a plurality of strip shaped shades for covering the figure "8" at the appropriate sections so as to display the desired figures; a transparent rectangular cover plate pressing on said figures for securing purpose; a very thin refractive plate of arcuate cross-section provided within the body of the lighting means, an outer surface thereof below said figures having a multiplicity of parallel strips each being serrated at 90 degree and disposed parallel to the light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for the light from the light source to be multi-refracted to produce uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the figures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
214 words
A figure display, comprising: a power supply; a body; a light source disposed on one end of said body element; a reflecting mirror disposed on the other end of the of the lighting means for reflecting body light from the light source; a parabolic mirror, the light being disposed at the focus of the parabolic mirror such that the light for the light source is reflected and emitted parallelly into the body; a plurality of "8" shaped figures, each being composed of seven segments of which each is provided with a flange on either side, the inner surface thereof being corrugated in shape for the light to be multireflected; a plurality of strip shaped shades for covering the figure "8" at the appropriate sections so as to display the desired figures; a transparent rectangular cover plate pressing on said figures for securing purpose; a very thin refractive plate of arcuate cross-section provided within the body of the lighting means, an outer surface thereof below said figures having a multiplicity of parallel strips each being serrated at 90 degree and disposed parallel to the light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for the light from the light source to be multi-refracted to produce uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the figures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 wherein said power supply comprises a battery, and a control circuit such that the solar energy is converted into the electrical energy and automatically charges said battery and the light source is controlled to automatically emit light for illuminating the figure display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 wherein said power supply is AC power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 wherein said parabolic mirror is a reflecting mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reflecting mirror is a second light source and a second parabolic mirror, said light source being disposed at the focus of said second parabolic mirror.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a rectangular tin foil disposed within the body below the reflecting plate for reflecting the downwardly illuminated light, thus to intensify the display of the figures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The figure display as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a vacuum plated layer on the inner surface within the body for reflecting the downwardly illuminated light, thus to intensify the display of the figures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A character display, comprising: a power supply; a body; being serrated at 90 degree and disposed parallel to the light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for the light from the light source to be multi-refracted to produce uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the characters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A character display, comprising: a power supply; a body; being serrated at 90 degree and disposed parallel to the light from the light source, an inner surface being smooth for the light from the light source to be multi-refracted to produce uniform and bright illuminating light for displaying the characters.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 wherein said power supply comprises a solar cell, a battery means, and a control circuit so that the solar energy is converted into the electrical energy and automatically charged to said battery means and that the light source is controlled to automatically emit light for illuminating the character display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 wherein said power supply is AC power source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 wherein said parabolic mirror is a reflecting mirror.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 wherein said reflecting mirror is a second light source and second parabolic mirror (7'), said light source being disposed at the focus of said second parabolic mirror (7').
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a rectangular tin foil disposed within the body below the reflecting plate for reflecting the downwardly illuminated light, thereby to intensify the display of the characters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The character display as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a vacuum plated layer on the inner surface within the body for reflecting the downwardly illuminated light, thus to intensify the display of the characters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3131670A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |