Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF INVENTIO~
(a) Field of the Invention
~he present invention relates to a display
sign and more particularly to a display frame having
a plurality of lamps disposed about the frame and
wherein an electric circuit is secured inwardly of the
frame to cause illumination of the lamps to create a
series of visually changing light patterns whereby to
attract the eye.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Various types of display sign constructions
are known.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention
to provide a very light weight display sign which com-
prises a hollow frame member having a transparent sheet
therebetween on which advertising material can be
written and having an electronic circuit mounted inwardly
of the hollow frame to cause i~lumination of lights
provided circumferentially about the frame in a channel
formed therein and visible during daylight. Another
feature of the invention is to provide a display sign
having a hollow frame member which is securable to an
enclosure whereby the enclosure and a transparent sheet ~
member extending between the frame constituted an en- -
closed unit in which goods may be displayed. A still
further feature of the present invention is to provide
a display sign formed of molded plastics material and
having any desired configuration and incorporating a
channel about its contour for housing a plurality of
light emitting diodes illuminated by a circuit which
creates a series of visually changing light patterns
whereby to attract the eye
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A further feature of the present invention is
to provide a display sign comprising a hollow frame
member molded of two detachably securable members easily
interconnectable together with circuit board means
secured inwardly thereof.
According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a display sign
comprising a continuous hollow frame member having two
securable frame members. A plurality of spaced apart
holes are aligned in a surface of at least one of the
securable members. Attachment means secures the securable
frame members together. A rigid sheet is captive across
the hollow frame member. Light emitting lamps are secured
in the hollow frame member and each aligned with respective
ones of at least some of the holes to protrude through
the holes. Circuit means is mounted in the hollow frame
member to cause the lamps to flash in a predetermined
sequence. The lamps are connected to a circuit board
containing the circuit means which is immovably secured
inwardly of the hollow frame member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the display
sign of the present invention,
FIGURE 2 is a cross-section view of the hollow
frame member, ~-
FIG~RE 3 is a fragmented section view of the
hollow frame member showing the mounting of a circuit
board,
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E'IGURE 4 is a block diagram of the electronic
circuit, and
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing various
uses of the display sign with an enclosure secured thereto.
DESCRIPTIO~ OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more
particularly to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown gener-
ally at 10, the display sign of the present invention.
I'he display sign comprises a continuous hollow frame
member 11 formed of two detachably securable members
12 and 12' which are of substantially semi spherical
cross-section. A channel 13 having a bottom wall 14
i5 disposed along each of the securable members 12 and
12' and disposed substantially at the apex thereof.
A plurality of structural depressions are formed along
the securable members 12 and L2' to each side of the
channels 14 to solidify the members. As herein shown,
these members are molded from a plastics material. ~;
Each of the securable members 12 and 12' are
each provided with an attachment flange 16 and 16' along
an outward peripheral edge thereof. Fasteners 17 extend
in a spaced-apart manner through juxtaposed flanges 16
and 16' to secure the two members together in juxtapo-
sition.
As shown in Figure 1, a sheet 18 of trans-
parent material is captive inwardly of the hollow frame ~-
member 11 between the securable members 12 and 12'.
For this purpose, the lower free edge 19 of each of the ~;;
members 12 and 12' is formed with a retention flange
whereby a slot 20 is defined between adjacent ones of
the edges 19 of two securable members 12 and 12' to `~
receive a marginal edge portion 18' of the transparent
sheet 18 captive within the hollow frame member 11.
A plurality of holes 21 are provided, spaced-
apart, along the channels 13 whereby to receive light
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emitting lamps, herein light emitting diodes 22, t~erein.
Circuit means, herein constituted by electronic circuit
boards 23, are retained within the hollow frame member
and connected to the light emitting diodes 22 to eli-
minate the lamps 22 to create a series of visuaLly
changing light patterns whereby to attract the eye.
As shown, the circuit boards 23 are elongated
flat narrow circuit boards secured along and adjacent an
in-ternal surfaces 2~ of the bottom wall 14 of each
channel 13 and the light emitting diodes 22 are secured
to the boards in alignment with respective ones of some
of the holes 21. As shown in this embodiment, the light
emitting diodes protrude through the holes 21 although
the circuit boards may be retained more inwardly of the
hollow frame member with the light emîtting diodes
being recessed inwardly and in alignment with the holes
However, in the embodiment described, there is a better
seal to prevent foreign matter from entering the hollow
member and depositing on the electronic circuit board.
Thus, with the hollow frame member as described, less ~;
maintenance and circuit failure arises due to dust
depositing on the printed circuits.
As shown in the drawings, the hollow frame
member is of rectangular configuration and there are
eight circuit boards mounted therein, one adjacent each -
channel in each of the four straight sections of both
securable members 12 and 12'. A securing element con-
sisting of a spacer bushing 25 and screw fasteners 26
and end spacers 27 secures the boards 23 in proper
position with the light emitting diodes in proper align-
ment with the holes. As shown in Figure 3, only one
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board is shown :in order to better illustrate the mount-
ing of these circuit boards.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown
the electronic circuit which controls the illuminating
patterns of the light emitting diodes. Basically, the
circuit comprises a voltage scanning circuit 30 having
a plurality of output gates 31, 31', etc., each gate
being connected to a plurality of light emitting diodes
22. A regulated power supply (not shown) provides the
proper voltage signal levels required for the light
emitting diodes 22 and the other circuit components in
the system. A plurality of oscillators 32 control the
scanner 30 and a shifter circuit 33 provides the change
in the light pattern by shifting the oscillator output
voltage signals.
~s shown in Figure 5, the display sign 10 may
~e used in combination with an enclosure 35 formed of
continuous side walls 36 and a back wall 37 whereby to
constitute a fully closed display case unit. Various
lights may be mounted in the side wall 36 or back wall
37 to provide illumination of articles 38 held in the
enclosure 35 for display. Also, as seen in Figure 5,
the hollow frame member may be of different configura-
tions. Also, as shown in this figure, adhesively secur- -
able letters 39 may be adhered to the transparent sheet
18 to display a message on that surface. Although not ;
shown, the transparent sheet 18 may also be a plastics
material hav:ing a colored pi~nent therein.
In a further embodiment, the transparen-t
sheet 18 is a clear plastic sheet of 3/4 inch ~hickness.
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Lamps (not shown) are mounted interiorly of the hollow
frame member to direct light from the peripheral edges
of the sheet 18 whereby light is transmitted through
the interior of the sheet. I~le adhesively securable
letters 39 are electrostatic and made of vinyl material
painted with a "day-glow" paint. This arrangement of
letter structure and edge lighting causes the lettering
to light-up whereby the message becomes more attract-
able to the eye.
It is within the ambit of the present inven-
tion to cover any obvious modifications of the preferred
embodiment disclosed herein provided such modifications
fall within the scope of the appended claims. For
example, the cross-section of the hollow ~rame member
lS could be different than that illustrated and molded of
a hea~ier plastic whereby structural depressions 15 may
not be necessary. Also, the means of attaching both
securable members together may be different as well as -~
the means to secure the circuit boards within the hollow
frame member.
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