AU2006236015A1 - A light box - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "A LIGHT BOX" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: IND 1

TITLE

O "A LIGHT BOX" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a light box. In particular the invention relates to a light box for the display of advertising media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Advertising is a multi billion dollar industry that occurs in every nation N in the world. There are many ways in which advertising is conducted including using various types of media such as television, radio and print.

Print media has become increasing popular due to the level of exposure that can be obtained.

One popular type of print media that is often used to promote a business is translucent posters that are placed in a light box. Light boxes are used to highlight the poster in order to entice consumers to look at the poster. Further, light boxes can be easily placed in a variety of different locations where people pass by such as airports, shopping centres and bus shelters.

Though light boxes are very effective for advertising purpose, many light boxes have inherent problems. Hot spots often occur within the light boxes. This causes dark and light linear bands that extend the length of the poster making the poster difficult to view in these darkened areas and further the darkened areas detract from the entire impact of the poster.

Printing technology has advanced so that lens are able to be used in light boxes to create posters that appear to be animated (know in the art as IND 2 Sflip images) or three dimensional (know in the art as 3D images). These 0 lenses can be in the form of a lenticular lens or a barrier lens. Both lens In change the viewing angle of the poster to create the appearance of animation or three dimensions.

In order that new printing technology can be utilised in light boxes, the INDlens must be aligned precisely with respect to the poster in the light box. If IDthe lens is not aligned precisely, then the effects of flip or 3D will not occur.

N Further, the lens must abut against the poster as any space between the poster and the lens will again negate the effects of flip or 3D. Accordingly, the poster is manually adhered to the lens to ensure precise alignment prior to installation within the light box. Hence, when the adverting campaign is completed, both the lens and the poster must be discarded. This increases the cost of advertising markedly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome and/or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form, the invention resides in a light box for highlighting print media, the light box comprising: a body; a plurality of electrical connectors for the location of a plurality of lights, the electrical connectors located within the body; a reflector to reflect light outwardly from the body; the reflector located IND 3 within the body; O a diffuser located on said body in order that light from the body z passes through the diffuser; and a lens located over the diffuser; wherein a cushioning material is attached to a front face of the Ndiffuser.

IIn another form, the invention resides in a light box for highlighting C1 print media, the light box comprising: a body having a plurality of ribs; a plurality of electrical connectors for the location of a plurality of lights, the electrical connectors located within the body; a reflector to reflect light outwardly from the body; the reflector located within the body; a diffuser located on said body in order that light from the body passes through the diffuser; and a lens located over the diffuser; wherein the ribs support the diffuser when located on said body.

In yet another form, the invention resides in a light box for highlighting print media, the light box comprising: a body; a plurality of electrical connectors for the location of a plurality of lights, the electrical connectors located within the body; a reflector to reflect light outwardly from the body; the reflector located within the body; IND 4 Sa diffuser located on said body in order that light from the body passes through the diffuser; and n a lens located over the diffuser; wherein the lens is formed from a transparent lens pane having a barrier that is spaced from a front face and a rear face of the pane.

NOIn still yet another form, the invention resides in a lens able to be used D in a light box, the lens comprising: N a transparent lens pane; a barrier located within the transparent pane wherein the barrier that is spaced from a front face and a rear face of the transparent pane.

In a further form, the invention resides in a diffuser able to be used in a light box, the diffuser comprising: a translucent diffuser sheet; and a cushioning material attached to a front face of the diffuser sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a light box according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows an partial exploded perspective view of a light box according to FIG.1; FIG. 3 shows a partial side view of a longitudinal rib located adjacent a reflector; IND SFIG. 4 shows a further perspective view of the light box; o FIG. 5 shows a further exploded perspective view of a light box Saccording to FIG.1; FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a lens; and FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of the lens of FIG. 6.

Cc DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT IND FIG. 1 to 5 show a light box 10 that is used to display advertising (media. The light box 10, due to its configuration is able to display media in both a "flip" format and a "3D" format.

The light box 10 includes a body 20, a reflector 30, a diffuser 40, a lens 50 and a front cover 60. The body 20 is formed from four frames members 21, 22, 23, 24 that are connected to each other to form a rectangular frame. A back cover 25 is attached to each of the frame members to form the body 20. Two longitudinal ribs 26 are attached to the back cover. It should be appreciated that there may be more than two longitudinal ribs. The two ribs 26 extend between an upper frame member 21 and a lower frame member 22. Two nodes project 27 outwardly from each of the ribs. It should be appreciated that there may be more than two nodes.

A reflector 30 covers the back cover 25. The reflector 30 extends between all of the frame members 21, 22, 23, 24. The reflector 30 is made from a sheet of plastic that has longitudinally extending fold lines 31. The reflector has three curves 32 that extend between the fold lines 31 and two flat sections 33 located at the ends of the reflector 30. The reflector 32 sits over the two ribs 26 with the fold lines 31 placed on top of the ribs 26. Slits O 34 extend through fold lines 31 that sit over the ribs 26 so that the nodes 27 z just extend through the reflector 30. The reflector 30 is silver coated to refect light. However, the reflector 30 may also be white in colour as an alternative.

Three pairs electrical connectors 70 are located adjacent the upper Iframe member 21 and lower frame members 22. The pairs of electrical Iconnectors 70 are used to mount three fluorescent lights 71. The electrical N connectors 70 shown are "twist lock" connectors. However, it should be appreciated that the any form of electrical connector could be used. Further, it should be appreciated that the differing numbers of electrical connectors may be used to mount more or less fluorescent lights 71. The electrical connectors 70 are electrically connected to an electrical cable 72. A standard power connector 73 is attached to the end of the electrical cable for location within a power socket to provide electricity from a power source.

However, it should be appreciated that the electrical cable may be wired directly to a power source without the need for a power connector.

Two locating pins 80 are located within the upper frame member 21.

The locating pins 80 extend outwardly from a top of the upper frame member and are spring loaded. Similarly, two locking pins 81 extend outward from the sides of the upper frame member 21 and the lower frame member 22.

The locking pins 81 are also spring loaded. Both the locating pins 80 and the locating pins 81 are of the same configuration.

The diffuser 40 is made from a translucent, white poly carbonate sheet 41. However, it should be appreciated that any translucent material IND 7 Ssuch as acrylic, polyvinylchloride or glass may be used. Two holes 42 are O located through the diffuser so that the diffuser can be located over the I locating pins. A cushioning material 43, such as bubble wrap, is attached to the front of the polycarbonate sheet 41. The cushioning material 43 is also transparent though it may also be translucent. It should be appreciated that N the cushioning material 43 may be of a variety of different forms such as N foam and is only required to be compressible and translucent.

CN The lens 50, as shown in more detail in FIG. 6 and 7, includes a transparent pane 51 that is formed from a first clear polycarbonate sheet 52 and a second clear polycarbonate 53 that are adhered together. However, it should be appreciated that any clear sheets 52,53 may be made of any material such as acrylic, polyvinylchloride or glass may be used. A barrier 54 is located between the clear polycarbonate sheets 52,53 so that the barrier 54 is spaced from a front face 55 of the pane 51and a rear face 56 of the pane 51. The barrier 54 contains a series of black lines that extend the length of the transparent pane 51. The ratio of the thickness of the black lines and the space between the black lines is 5:2. The thickness of the first polycarbonate sheet 51 with respect to the second polycarbonate sheet 52 is different. The first polycarbonate is thicker 52 than the second polycarbonate sheet 53. Two holes 57 are located through the transparent pane 51 to enable the lens 50 to be located on the locating pins 80. It should be appreciated that the lens 50 may be formed from a single clear polycarbonate sheet having the barrier 54 moulded within the polycarbonate sheet.

IND 8 SThe front cover 60 is used to enclose the body. The front cover 60 is 0 formed from a four L-shaped cover members 61 that are joined together. A Sclear polycarbonate cover sheet 62 is attached to the L-shaped cover members 61. Two hinges 63 are attached to the front cover and the body to pivotally mount the front cover with respect to the body 20. It should be NOappreciated that the lens 50 may also double to be the clear polycarbonate IDcover sheet 61.

1 The light box 10 is assembled by placing the diffuser 40 with the body The reflector 30 sits within the body 20 so that the flat sections 33 abut against side frame 23, 24 members. Two fold lines 31 of the reflector 30 sit on respective ribs 26 to ensure that the curves 32 are correctly aligned with respect to the electrical connectors 70. The curves 32 of the reflector 30 sit below the electrical connectors 70 and hence sit below the fluorescent lights 71 located within the electrical connectors 70. The reflector 30 is therefore able to reflect light outwardly from the body The diffuser 40 is located on the locating pins 80 via the two holes 42 located within the diffuser 40. The diffuser 40 abuts against the two nodes 27 located on the ribs 26. A transparent poster 90, having two holes 91 located at the same spacing as the locating pins 80, is placed on the locating pins 80 adjacent the diffuser 40. The lens 50 is then placed adjacent the transparent poster 90 Again, the lens 50 is located on the locating pins via the two holes 57 located in the lens 50. The front cover 60 is then rotated with respect to the body until the locking pins 81 engage with the cover members 61 to hold the front cover 60 with respect to the body N 9 c(N When the front cover 60 is attached to the body 20, the front cover applies a force to the lens 50, poster 90 and diffuser 40. The diffuser 40 is Ssupported adjacent it centre by the nodes 27 located on the ribs 26. This enables the diffuser 40 to remain substantially rigid with little or no deflection.

Further, the poster 90 is held against the cushioning material 43 which NO, compresses. Both the rigidity of the diffuser 40 and the compressibility of IND cushioning material 43 ensure that the poster 90 is held flat against the lens C(N 50. Further, the holes 91, 57 located in the poster 90 and lens 50 ensures that the poster 90 is aligned precisely with respect to the lens The barrier 54 is located within the lens 50 so that it is spaced from a front face 55 and rear face 56 of the lens pane 57. The first polycarbonate sheet 52 is thicker than the second polycarbonate sheet 53 to allow the light box is able to be used for both flip and 3D posters. When the first polycarbonate sheet 52 is located adjacent the poster, the barrier 54 is spaced a relatively large distance away from the poster and allows only a narrow range of vision which is required for a 3D poster. When the lens is turned over, the second polycarbonate sheet 53 is located adjacent the poster, the barrier 54 is spaced a relatively small distance away from the poster that allows a wide range of vision which is required for a flip poster.

The light box 10 is also able to substantially remove hot spots that plaque other common light boxes. It is envisaged that the light box 10 is able to scatter light more effectively than other light boxes due to the cushioning material 43 located on the diffuser. Hence, little to no dark areas appear on the poster 90 and the poster 90 is illuminated substantially evenly.

\0 1 SIt should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications O may be made to the embodiment described within departing from the spirit or I scope of the invention.

Claims (22)

1. 2. The light box of claim 1 wherein the cushioning material is translucent.
2. 3. The light box of claim 1 wherein the cushioning material is transparent.
3. 4. The light box of claim 1 wherein the cushioning material is bubble wrap. The light box of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cushioning material is adhered to the diffuser.
4. 5. The light box of claim any one of the preceding claims wherein at least two locating pins extend outwardly from the body.
5. 6. The light box of claim 5 wherein holes extend through the reflector, diffuser and/or lens for location of the locating pins.
6. 7. The light box of any one of the preceding claims wherein the diffuser IND 12 Sis made from a polycarbonate sheet. 0 8. A light box for highlighting print media, the light box comprising: Sa body having a plurality of ribs; a plurality of electrical connectors for the location of a plurality of lights, the electrical connectors located within the body; NCa reflector to reflect light outwardly from the body; the reflector located IDwithin the body; N a diffuser located on said body in order that light from the body passes through the diffuser; and a lens located over the diffuser; wherein the ribs support the diffuser when located on said body.
7. 9. The light box of claim 8 wherein each ribs include at least one node. The light box of claim 9 wherein at least one node of each rib extends through a slit located within the reflector.
8. 11. The light box of claim any one of claims wherein at least two locating pins extend outwardly from the body.
9. 12. The light box of claim 11 wherein holes extend through the reflector, diffuser and/or lens for location of the locating pins.
10. 13. A light box for highlighting print media, the light box comprising: a body; a plurality of electrical connectors for the location of a plurality of lights, the electrical connectors located within the body; a reflector to reflect light outwardly from the body; the reflector located within the body; IND 13 0 0 a diffuser located on said body in order that light from the body passes through the diffuser; and Sa lens located over the diffuser; wherein the lens is formed from a transparent lens pane having a barrier that is spaced from a front face and a rear face of the pane. NO14. The light box of claim 13 wherein the barrier includes a series of black IDlines that extend substantially the length of the transparent pane. The light box of claim 14 wherein the ratio of the thickness of the black lines and a space between the black lines is 5:2.
11. 16. The light box of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein a spacing between the front face and the barrier is different from the spacing from the rear face and the barrier.
12. 17. The light box of any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the transparent pane includes two transparent sheets.
13. 18. A lens able to be used in a light box, the lens comprising: a transparent lens pane; a barrier located within the transparent pane wherein the barrier that is spaced from a front face and a rear face of the transparent pane.
14. 19. The lens of claim 18 wherein the barrier includes a series of black lines that extend substantially the length of the transparent pane. The lens of claim 19 wherein the ratio of the thickness of the black lines and a space between the black lines is 5:2.
15. 21. The lens of any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein a spacing between the NO 14 O front face and the barrier is different from the spacing from the rear face and o the barrier. I 22. The lens of any one of claims 18 to 21 wherein the transparent pane includes two transparent sheets.
16. 23. A diffuser able to be used in a light box, the diffuser comprising: NO a translucent diffuser sheet; and D a cushioning material attached to a front face of the diffuser sheet. C 24. The diffuser of claim 23 wherein the cushioning material is translucent.
17. 25. The diffuser of claim 23 wherein the cushioning material is transparent.
18. 26. The diffuser of claim 23 wherein the cushioning material is bubble wrap.
19. 27. The diffuser of of any one of claims 23 to 26 wherein the cushioning material is adhered to the diffuser.
20. 28. A light box as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. 29. A lens as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. 30. A diffuser as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.