Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
jl This invention relates to sign letter structures and,
I' more particularly, to letter structures having translucent letter-
¦l forms for Mounting on an opaque sign frame usually containing a
I light source for illuminating the letter and desired portions of
5 I the letter structure.
In ll.S. Pat. Nos. 3,25b,436, dated June 7, 1966 and
1 4,140,405, dated February 20, 1979, there are shown and described
¦ sign letter construction in which letter-forms of translucent
material are mounted in a letter frame. The letter frames in
10 both patents are made up of a metal strip, or foil, embedded in
transparent plastic. When the sign is illulDinated, the illumina-
tion passes forwardly through the letter-form and through pre-
designated areas of the letter structure. Thus, in the '436
patent, in addition to the letter-form, the light source illumi-
15 nates the transparent plastic around the letter edge. In the
¦ '405 patent, transparent or translucent areas are provided in thewall of the letter structure behind the letter-form to improve and
enhance the attractiveness ani appearance of the sign.
I In the instant invention it has been discovered that the
20 j attractiveness and appearance of such sign letter structures can
be further enhanced and improved and that such sign letters can be
made more readily adaptable for use in the manufacture of new
signs or the conversion of existing signs. Thus, as will be more
I fully described later herein, the sign letter structure of the
25 j instant invention might be Mounted on the face of an opaque sign
frame, around the edges of a letter cut-out in the sign frame or
the sign letter structure migi,t be slipped over an existing letter
structure on the opaque sign frame froM which the pre-existing
letter face has been removed. In either even~, a trallslucent
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letter-form is fixed to the face or projecting end of the
letter structure, as mounted on the opaque sign frame, for
illumination by the light source in the frame.
In the instant invention, as will be more fully
described, the letter-form might be mounted on the letter
frame from the front of the letter frame so as to rest on
the outer side of an inwardly projecting ledge or
protuberance on the inner wall of the letter frame or the
letter-form mlght be mounted from the back or sign frame
side of the letter so as to rest on the inner side of the
ledge or protuberance. The direction from which the
letter-form is mounted, i.e., from -the front or from the
back will affect the appearance and the edge illumination
of the letter.
In summary, the present invention is considered
as providing an illuminated sign letter structure for use
in a sign illuminated from a light source positioned
rearward of the letter structure, a generally flat letter-
form through which light can pass, a strip material bent to
conform to the perimeter of the letter-form and forming a
side frame therearound, the strip material comprising inner
and outer plies of plastic material extruded about the
opposite surfaces of a metal foil, at least the inner of
the plies being of a transparent material, and an enlarged
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side frame end for receiving a letter-form~ the metal foil
in the enlarged frame end being flat between the plies and
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forming on the letter-form side of the frame a transparent
ply area extending forwardly from the front and around the
periphery of the flat letter-form and being illuminated by
the illuminating source at the rear of the letter-form, the
illuminated transparent ply area around the periphery of
the letter-form forming an illuminated edge area in the
transparent inner ply around the inner peripheral edge of
the letter-form when the letter-form is illuminated from
the rear and viewed from the front.
Furthermore, the present invention may be
considered as providing an illuminated sign letter
structure for use in a sign illuminated from a light source
positioned rearward of the letter structure, a generally
flat letter-form through which light can pass, a strip
material bent to conform to the perimeter of the letter-
form and forming a side frame therearound, the strip
material comprising inner and outer plies of plas~ic
material extruded about the opposite surfaces of a metal
foil, at least the inner ply material being of a
transparent material and forming an enlarged side frame end
! for receiving a letter-form, the enlarged side frame end
inwardly of the edge of the strip terminating in an
outwardly extending ledge, the ledge having opposite
~i parallel surfaces for mating inter-fit with the surface of
a letter-form engaged therewith, the extruded, transparent
plastic material at the letter-form side of the frame
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extending forwardly and outwardly from the flat letter-form
and being illuminated by the light source rearward of the
letter-form to form the illuminated edge area in a
transparent inner ply around the inner peripheral edge of
the letter-form when the letter-form is illuminated from
the rear and viewed from the front.
The invention of the instant application will be
more fully described and will be better understoo~ from the
following description taken with the appended drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a letter
structure embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view, in section, taken
at 2-2 Figure l; and
Figùre 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but
showing the letter~form in alternate position.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 but
showing a ~odified form of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, the sign letter,
generally designated 2, incl-udes a generally flat,
-transparent or translucent letter-form in a frame,
generally designated 6. Letter-form 4 may be cut or cast
from a suitable transparent or translucent material,
preferably, transparent or translucent plastic. The
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1 ~ transparent or translucent material may be colorless, may be white
or may be colored depending upon the design of the sign. Frame 6
is of material bent and shaped to conEorm to the letter frame
I¦ contour. For reasons more apparent hereinafter, sign letter 2 is
5 I mounted on an opaque or translucent support 8.
Referring to Figure 2, frame 6 includes an outer ply 10,
an inner ply 12 and strip 14 of metal foil or other opaque inter-
; face material positioned between and embedded in inner and outer
j plies 10, 12. At the forward end of frame 6, the end remote from
support 8, inner ply 12 is thickened or enlarged to form enlarged
¦ outer end 16 and inwardly projecting ledge or protuberance 18
I spaced inwardly from outer end 16 and having, at its outer and
¦ inner surfaces 20, 22, flat surfaces for flush engagement with
the outer or inner surface of letter-form 4 for reasons more
apparent later herein. At its inner end, for contact with support
8, frame 6 may be smooth or provided with an outwardly projecting
ledge 24 for mounting frame 6 with letter-fol~ 4 on support 8.
Preferably, plies 10, 12, with strip 14 therein, are
extruded as a continuous strip which may be cut and formed into
20 ~I the letter. The continuous composite strip might be suitably
mitred and grooved in order to form the desired letter shape.
I In any event, letter-form 4, of transparent or translucnet
I material, is fitted into letter frame 6 abutting ledge 18 at
I surface 20 or 22, as the case may be, and forming a fitted,
25 !I mating inter-fit therewith, Letter-form 4 is affixed to frame 6
1 with a suitable cement, adhesive or solvent which fuses the
¦l letter-form and frame materials.
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1 Letter frame 6, after the letter has been formed and
shaped, may be affixed to the face support 8 around the edge of
the letter cut-out with a suitable cement, adhesive or solvent,
' Figure 2, or may be sleeved over existing letter body 30, Figure
5 li 3~ afEixed to Eace support 8 and from which the letter face has
¦¦ been removed and is being repl.aced. Letter frame 6 may be affixed
to body 30 with a suitable cement, adhesive or solvent.
1 Letter-form 4 may be placed on the inner side of ledge
¦1 18, Figure 2, and affixed, attached and sealed to s~lrface 22 by
10 !¦ a suitable cement, adhesive or solvent, or may be placed on the
¦l outer side of ledge 18, Figure 3, and similarly affixed, attached
and sealed to surface 20, Figure 3. The placing or positioning
of letter-form 4 on the inner or on the outer side of ledge 18
will, of course, change the appearance of the letter.
When positioned on the inner side of ledge 18, Figure
2, the letter-form 4 face of the letter is recessed, will have a
recessed appearance and ledge 18 around tlle edge of letter-form 4
and against wllich letter-form 4 is affixed or attached will be
I ill~uninated by the illumination of the light behind the letter
20 I illuminated through inner ply 12. Depending upon the color of
¦' letter-form 4 and the color of the transparent plastic, a halo
! of plain or colored light might be provided around letter-form ~l,
¦I to highlight or accentuste the letter or to subdue the recessing
1, depending upon the effect desired.
25~l When positioned on the outer side of ledge 18 against
surface 20, Figure 3, the letter-form 4 face of the letter will
have a more flush letter appearance. Indeed, the depth of the
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form of letter frame ~ from surface 20 of ledge 18 to the front
edge of the frame as compared to the thickDess of letter-form 4
can be designed and letter frame 6 can be extruded so that the
, front edge of frame 6 and the surface of letter-form 4 are flush
5 1~ or substantially flush. Because the letter-form 4 is in front of
ledge 18, the ill~mmination of the transparent plastic of ledge 18
will be behind letter-form 4 in the embodiment of Figure 3 and
will not be visible from the front of the letter.
I It is to be understood that the positioning of letter-
10 I form 4 in front or in back of ledge 18 is a matter of choice andis not dependent upon the configuration of support 8. Thus, the
positioning of letter-form 4 on the front of ledge 18, as in
I Figure 3, can be employed with the embodiment of Figure 2 and
¦ vice versa. Where desired the exposed or outer surface of ply 10
15 ¦l inwardly from the letter-form, might be painted or otherwise
¦I finished to match the surface of support 8 or to highlight the
¦l exposed letter side. Such finish might be opaque and prevent
passage of illwnination through the side of letter frame 6.
ll As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the end of foil 14 at
20 l¦ the enlarged end of letter frame 6 might be straight, as shol,m
¦¦ in Figures 2 and 3, or might be bent backward onto itself in the
enlarged end of the latter frame and toward the direction of
letter-form 4, as shown at 14a, Figure 4. Whether letter frame 6
is formed with straight foil, as ln Figures 2 and 3, or with bent
25 ll or curved end foil, as showm at 14a, Figure 4, illumination of
¦ inner ply 12 by the light source behind letter-form b will be
s trans-nitted by the transparent or translucent material of inner
ply 12 from behind letter-form 4 to the front of the letter-form.
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l The degree of illumination transmitted, the effect and the appear-
ance of such transmitted illuloination at the front of the letter-
!~ fonn will depend upon whether the foil edge is straight or bentor curved. With the edge straight, inner ply 12 around the
5 ~ letter-form will be illuminated. With the edge bent or curved,
such as 14a, Figure 4, a part of the transmitted illumination will~
be shielded or blocked by the curved or bent back foil. The
' amount of illumination shielded or blocXed will, of course, depend
j upon the degree of the bend or curve in the foil, the width of
10 j such bend or curve and the length to which the foil is returned
~l in the enlarged end.
¦I The terms and expressions which have been employed are
used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is
I no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of
15 ¦ excluding any equivalent of the :Eeatures shown and described or
I¦ portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications
¦l are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
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