US5542201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indirectly illuminated sign
Assignee: Prolume Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1996-08-06
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An internally illuminated sign having indirect illumination provided by light emitting diodes (LED). A plurality of LED's are mounted on a printed circuit board (PC board) and mounted within the sign. The PC board is offset to a side of the sign housing with the somewhat directional LED light source directed toward a reflector. The reflector is angled to convert the generally narrow directional light source of an LED into a substantially even, diffused and non-uniform light distribution pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Grondal
- 👤 Robert M. Johnstone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:06
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/02; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/005; G02B6/0055; G09F13/04; G09F13/14; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G02B6/003; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0045; G02B6/0046; G09F13/0418; G09F2013/05; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an enclosure, and a display located on a side of the housing, the display including indicia defined by at least one translucent portion to permit the passage of light therethrough for viewing the indicia; a circuit board mounted on a wall of the housing adjoining the side of the display, the circuit board being oriented generally perpendicular to the display; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board for illuminating the enclosure; and a reflective surface located within the enclosure for reflecting light transmitted by the diodes through the at least one translucent portion of the display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an enclosure, and a display located on a side of the housing, the display including indicia defined by at least one translucent portion to permit the passage of light therethrough for viewing the indicia; a circuit board mounted on a wall of the housing adjoining the side of the display, the circuit board being oriented generally perpendicular to the display; a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board for illuminating the enclosure; and a reflective surface located within the enclosure for reflecting light transmitted by the diodes through the at least one translucent portion of the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is defined by a reflector member mounted within the housing and facing the display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the reflector member defines a first reflecting portion facing the display and a second reflecting portion oriented at an angle of less than 180° with respect to the first reflecting portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the second reflecting portion is upturned in relation to the first reflecting portion to further reflect light through the at least one translucent portion of the display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the enclosure defines at least one down-lighting aperture formed on a substantially opposite side of the housing relative to the light emitting diodes for illuminating a space below the enclosure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the indicia deflates the word EXIT.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes four sides defining a rectangular enclosure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes two displays, one display being located on a first side of the housing and the other display being located on a second substantially opposite side of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein the reflective surface as defined by at least one reflector mounted within the enclosure spaced between the first and second displays for reflecting light onto each display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 9, comprising two reflectors mounted in an abutting relationship along one edge of each reflector, wherein each reflector is slanted toward a respective display to reflect light onto the respective display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the display is defined by a display panel forming a respective side of the housing and defining at least one substantially opaque portion adjacent to the at least one translucent portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is formed by a wall of the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board defines an approximately rectangular configuration, and the plurality of light emitting diodes are spaced relative to each other in a single row on the board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board defines an approximately rectangular configuration, and the plurality of light emitting diodes are spaced relative to each other in two rows on the board, each row extending in an elongated direction of the board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
An illuminated sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an enclosure, and means located on a side of the housing for displaying indicia by permitting the passage of light from the enclosure therethrough; a plurality of solid-state lamps; means for mounting the plurality of solid-state lamps on a wall of the housing adjoining the side of the means for displaying, the means for mounting being oriented approximately perpendicular to the means for displaying; and means for reflecting light transmitted by the solid-state lamps within the enclosure through the means for displaying to illuminate the indicia.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
An illuminated sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an enclosure, and means located on a side of the housing for displaying indicia by permitting the passage of light from the enclosure therethrough; a plurality of solid-state lamps; means for mounting the plurality of solid-state lamps on a wall of the housing adjoining the side of the means for displaying, the means for mounting being oriented approximately perpendicular to the means for displaying; and means for reflecting light transmitted by the solid-state lamps within the enclosure through the means for displaying to illuminate the indicia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 15, wherein the solid-state lamps are light emitting diodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for mounting includes a circuit board.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 17, wherein the solid-state lamps are spaced relative to each other in at least one row extending in an elongated direction of the circuit board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An illuminated sign as defined in claim 15, wherein the means for reflecting light is formed by a reflective surface of the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
An illuminated sign assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the plurality of sides of the housing define an approximately rectangular enclosure, and the means for mounting the plurality of solid-state lamps is located exclusively on a wall defining a single side of the rectangular enclosure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is formed by at least one wall of the housing located opposite the side of the display and facing the entire indicia for reflecting light transmitted by the diodes through the translucent portion of the display forming the indicia.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sign assembly as defined in claim 21, wherein the plurality of sides of the housing define an approximately rectangular enclosure, and the circuit board and light emitting diodes are located exclusively on a wall defining a single side of the rectangular enclosure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
An illuminated sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an approximately rectangular enclosure, and a display located on a side of the housing and including indicia defined by at least one translucent portion to permit the passage of light therethrough for viewing the indicia; means for illuminating the enclosure consisting of a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being mounted on a single side of the rectangular enclosure adjoining the side of the display and oriented approximately perpendicular to the display; and a reflective surface located within the housing opposite the side of the display and facing the entire indicia for reflecting light transmitted by the diodes through the at least one translucent portion of the display.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
128 words
An illuminated sign assembly, comprising: a housing including a plurality of sides defining an approximately rectangular enclosure, and a display located on a side of the housing and including indicia defined by at least one translucent portion to permit the passage of light therethrough for viewing the indicia; means for illuminating the enclosure consisting of a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board being mounted on a single side of the rectangular enclosure adjoining the side of the display and oriented approximately perpendicular to the display; and a reflective surface located within the housing opposite the side of the display and facing the entire indicia for reflecting light transmitted by the diodes through the at least one translucent portion of the display.
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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) | 1999-08-06 | 2000-02-05 | 2000-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-06 | 2004-02-05 | 2004-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-06 | 2008-02-05 | 2008-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |