US5744906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas discharge illumination device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-12-22
•
Granted: 1998-04-28
•
Expires: 2015-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A translucent longitudinally extending gas chamber housing having two sections, each of which includes a facial surface configured to congruently match the facial surface of the other. The sections are hermetically joined to one another at the facial surfaces thereof to form a chamber for the retention of an illuminating gas therein. Electrodes are provided where desirable within the chamber for ignition of the gas. The sections are configured for mass production typically by use of molding processes. Typically the sections include transitions from a raised portion to a flattened portion or vice versa to provide the configuration necessary for forming alphanumeric or other types illuminated of displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren L. Alford
- 👤 Danny Ray Massey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A gas-discharge illumination device comprising: a translucent longitudinally extending housing forming a gas chamber, said housing having a first section and a second section, each said first and second sections having a mating facial surface, each said mating facial surface hermetically attached to the other, said first and second sections having a plurality of longitudinally extending raised portions each having a predetermined cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally extending flattened portions each having a predetermined cross-section and a plurality of longitudinally extending transition segments, the longitudinally extending cross section of each said transition segment transitioning from the cross-sectional configuration of each said raised portion to the cross-sectional configuration of each said flattened portion, said raised portions of said first section being coincident to said flattened portions of said second section, said raised portions of said second section being coincident to said flattened portions of said first section, said transition segments of said first section being coincident to the transition segments of said second section so as to form said gas chamber between said first and second sections as a longitudinally extending conduit having a generally constant cross-sectional area; and illumination means for illuminating said gas chamber and said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A gas-discharge illumination device comprising: a translucent longitudinally extending housing forming a gas chamber, said housing having a first section and a second section, each said first and second sections having a mating facial surface, each said mating facial surface hermetically attached to the other, said first and second sections having a plurality of longitudinally extending raised portions each having a predetermined cross-section, a plurality of longitudinally extending flattened portions each having a predetermined cross-section and a plurality of longitudinally extending transition segments, the longitudinally extending cross section of each said transition segment transitioning from the cross-sectional configuration of each said raised portion to the cross-sectional configuration of each said flattened portion, said raised portions of said first section being coincident to said flattened portions of said second section, said raised portions of said second section being coincident to said flattened portions of said first section, said transition segments of said first section being coincident to the transition segments of said second section so as to form said gas chamber between said first and second sections as a longitudinally extending conduit having a generally constant cross-sectional area; and illumination means for illuminating said gas chamber and said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said illumination means includes a plurality of electrodes strategically positioned within said gas chamber housing, and wherein said electrodes are sequentially powered to provide selected illumination effects.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein portions of said sections are provided with an opaque surface to permit illumination by said gas chamber only in selected areas, and wherein said first section is disposed to form the frontal portion of said illuminated display, and wherein said selected areas of said first section include only said raised portions of said first section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein portions of one of said first and second sections are provided with a reflective surface to provide special effects to the illumination of said gas chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said reflective surface is formed on said housing within said gas chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein a transparent, electrically non conductive coating is provided between said reflective surface and said gas chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said section further includes an extension extending laterally outwardly therefrom in congruent relation with one another and terminating at a distal edge, each said extension providing a continuation of each said facial surface of each said section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one said distal edge is formed as an angle with respect to the facial surface of each said extension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least one said distal edge includes at least one surface indicia thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said raised portions are generally configured as an arch, and the cross-sectional configuration of said flattened portions are generally configured as a flattened plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1720155A
Cited
US1825399A
Cited
US1923148A
Cited
US1937957A
Cited
US2621430A
Cited
US3026436A
Cited
US4234817A
Cited
US4454448A
Cited
US4584501A
Cited
US4703574A
Cited
US5223262A
Cited
US4990826A
Cited
US5036243A
Cited
US5220249A
Cited
US5479071A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |