GB2046977A

GB2046977A - Illuminated displays

Info

Publication number: GB2046977A
Application number: GB8008291A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Spiralux Neon SPRL
Current assignee: Spiralux Neon SPRL
Priority date: 1979-03-12
Filing date: 1980-03-12
Publication date: 1980-11-19
Also published as: GB2046977B; DE3009162A1; NL8001431A

Abstract

A display apparatus has two edge- illumined transparent panels 2, 3 with markings 7, there being an elongated plate 50 extending beneath the panels in front of the light source, the plate being part opaque, transparent, coloured etc. and irregularly pivoted about axis 51 to provide a varying illumination for the panels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Light apparatus This invention relates to a light apparatus which comprises at least one transparent panel provided with inscriptions or markings obtained by engraving or grinding on at least one large side thereof, at least one light source so arranged as to light up the panel or panels through at least one edge thereof, part of the light passing through the transparent panel or panels being deflected by said inscriptions towards a viewer, and at least one device so arranged as to influence the light sent out by the light source before said light reaching the transparent panel or panels.

There are known such light apparatus which are notably intended to form advertising, indicating or signalling means, for instance electric light signs.

There are notably known as devices enabling to influence that light sent out by the light source, various devices enabling to focus the light rays on the edge of a single panel at a time, in sequence, by rotating said device about an axis. It may be comprised of a slotted drum surrounding a lamp, a rotating prism transmitting that light ray sent out by the source through a collimating lens or a rotating mirror reflecting the rays from a light source that pass through a converging lens.

Said devices have for drawback that they do allow lighting but one transparent panel at a time, which strongly limits the possibilities of light plays for the sign inscriptions or letterings.

There is also known a light sign which comprises a belt arranged between the source and the panels to be lighted, and which is comprised of a large number of colour strips arranged at an angle on said belt. When the belt is rotated, the strip movement relative to the panels causes a progressive change in the colours on the inscriptions from the various panels.

Said device has the drawback of a relatively large volume, particularly when the number of required changes in the colours or light plays is high. It does not enable either the temporary superposition of a plurality of strips, coloured or not, and thus the corresponding light plays.

The known apparatus have moreover the drawback that surfaces damages such as scratches, scorings or various markings present on the outer surfaces of said lighted transparent panel or panels, become luminous and are thus clearly visible for a viewer. Said phenomenon is particularly marked for scratches present on the large outer surface facing the viewer of the lighted transparent panel or panel group, as such scratches cause in the same way as said inscriptions, a deflecting towards the viewer of part of the light passing through the panel facing the viewer. However other flaws present on the outer surfaces of the transparent panel or panel group are also caused to become clearly visible to a viewer by the light passing through the transparent panel or panels.Such flaws are for example caused by markings left by the cleaning of the outer panel surfaces or by finger-prints left on said outer surfaces when handling the apparatus.

The invention has essentially for object to design an apparatus as defined above, which does not have the stated drawbacks and which has a minimized volume while enabling a maximum number of different light plays.

According to the invention, this object is obtained due to the device provided to influence the light comprising at least one small plate with a length which is at least equal to the edge or edges to be lighted from the transparent panel or panels, said plate being sandwiched between the light source and said edge or edges with the lengthwise axis thereof in parallel relationship with the lengthwise axis of said edge or edges, said small plate being possibly divided into a number of zones influencing differently the light sent out by said source, and driving means for moving said plate or plates substantially cross-wise to the transparent panel or panels in both directions, possibly with jerky movements.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said device for influencing the light comprises a plurality of sandwiched small plates, said plates lying according to the movement displacement imparted thereto by said driving-means, in positions where said plates are partly or completely superposed relative to one another, or else not superposed.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, said driving means comprise a driving motor imparting to at least one cam a rotating movement, at least one link driven at the one end thereof by one of the provided cams with an alternating traverse movement, and connected at the other end thereof to the plate or one plate from the sandwiched plates, or to the holder thereof, in such a way as to impart to said small plate an alternating motion cross-wise to the panels, and return means so arranged as to permanently retain each provided link engaged with that cam it does cooperate with.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one cam is so profiled as to cause during one revolution thereof, at least one jerky movement of said small plate over a distance as measured at right angle to the panel or panels, which corresponds substantially to the thickness of one panel.

It is thus possible to obtain a small-sized apparatus which enables to vary the light passing through the transparent panel or panels, such variations may notably be comprised of possibly jerky changes in the colour of that light passing through the lighted panel or panels, or of sudden darkenings of one or a plurality of panels or of part thereof which causes of course for the viewer, corresponding changes or darkenings in the inscriptions on the panel or panels.

There is thus obtained in this way a particularly useful device for advertising or signalling purposes.

Other details and features of the invention will stand out from the following description given by way of non limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side cross-section with parts broken away, of one embodiment of a light apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section along line ll-ll in figure 1, of said light apparatus.

Figures 3a to 3c show three positions of a device designed to influence the light in another embodiment of a light apparatus according to the inVention.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section of another variation of an embodiment according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-section along line V-V in figure 4.

In the various figures, the same reference numerals pertain to similar components.

The light apparatus 1 as shown in figures 1 and 2, comprises two transparent panels 2 and 3 which are normally lighted-up through the edges 4 and 5 thereof by means of a light source 6 which is arranged inside a closed housing 28, which is light-tight. That light originating from the source 6 passes through the panels 2 and 3 and it is deflected partly by inscriptions or markings 7 which have been obtained by engraving or grinding, towards a viewer 8.

As only those flaws present on the surface of said lighted transparent panels 2 and 3 are observed with discomfort by the viewer, there has been provided according to the invention, a first protecting plate 9 which protects the lighted panels to prevent having flaws on the surface thereof, said plate 9 being transparent and arranged between the viewer 8 and said panels 2 and 3, as well as a second protecting plate 10 which has the same purpose than plate 9, but which protects that side of panels 2 and 3 remote from viewer 8.Of course to avoid that flaws present on the outer surfaces of plates 9 and 10, for instance due to cleaning and handling of apparatus 1 be clearly observed by viewer 8, there has been provided according to the invention, that no through said plates 9 and 10 light does pass, that is that they are not lighted-up by said source 6 on the edges thereof facing said source.

Preferably said transparent panels 2 and 3 and said protecting plates 9 and 10 have substantially the same shape and are made from the same material to avoid for instance problems due to expansion differentials.

The protecting plate 9 has necessarily to be transparent, even if it can be coloured, while plate 10 may possibly be opaque.

As shown in the drawings, sealing means 11 and 12 have been provided to stop the light on that edge of plates 9 and 10 facing said light source 6.

According to the invention, that device designed to influence the light comprises in the apparatus as shown in figure 1, a small plate 50 with a length which is substantially equal to the length of the panel edges, said plate 50 being sandwiched between the light source 6 and said edges 4 and 5, with the lengthwise axis thereof in parallel relationship with the lengthwise axis of said edges, and driving means for moving said plate 50 substantially crosswise to said panels 2 and 3, in both directions.

The small plate may for instance be divided into zones with different colours and/or into transparent and/or opaque zones. Said plate is shaped in the case as shown in figures 1 and 2 as an arc of circle in cross-section and it may swing about an axis 51 in parallel relationship with the lengthwise axis of edges 4 and 5 and passing through the center of said arc, said small plate being supported at each end thereof by a sector 52 which is swingable about axis 51.

The driving means for the small plate 50 comprise an electric motor 53 which rotates a driven shaft 55 which is arranged in parallel relationship with the swinging axis 51 of plate 50 and to which is fastened a disk 56. On the one side of said disk 56 is for example etched a groove 59 which is used as a cam, groove inside which slides a lug 57 from a connecting rod 58 which is connected at the one end thereof, to said driven shaft 55 in such a way as to be slidable thereon at right angle to said panels and at the other end thereof, for example to the one sector 52, in such a way as to be swingable relative thereto. To allow said sliding, the connecting rod is provided at said first end, with an oblong opening 54 by means of which it is slidable on shaft 55.Depending on the shape of that groove 59 used as cam, the sector 52 will be moved in the direction of shaft 55 or in the opposite direction, and the small plate 50 will be able to swing in a corresponding way about axis 51.

As it appears from the embodiment as shown in figures 1 and 2, the groove 59 used as cam, is provided with portions which are equidistant, for example in 62, from the disk center. When lug 57 lies in the one said portion, it retains the small plate 50 in a constant position relative to panels 2 and 3. Said groove 59 has on the other hand guide surfaces 60 in parallel relationship with a radius from disk 56. A return spring 61 is so arranged as to suddenly return lug 57 from the one portion 62 to that following portion 62 which corresponds to another position of the small plate 50 relative to panels 2 and 3.

The disk 56 is provided on that surface thereof opposite to the one bearing said groove 59 used as cam, with a second etched groove which is shaped as an eccentric 63 in the case shown. Inside said control groove 63 is guided a second lug not shown, from a second connecting rod 64 which is connected with the one end thereof to shaft 55 in such a way as to be slidable thereon with an alternating traversing motion, and with the other end thereof to an arm 65 which is swingable about axis 51. The arrangement of eccentric groove 63 and cam groove 59 is such that said return spring 61 connected on the one hand to the free and of swinging arm 65 and on the other hand to the one sector 52, can return said first connecting rod 58 along the guide surfaces 60 of groove 59, whatever the direction of the motion to be imparted to said connecting rod.

The embodiment shown in figures 3a to 3c is similar to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2 with the difference that the device for influencing the light comprises two small superposed plates 66 and 67 which are sandwiched between the light source and the transparent panels.

The small plate 66 is driven by connecting rod 68 which moves as a function of the shape of cam groove 69 provided on the one side of disk 56. Said connecting rod 68 is connected with the one end thereof to a return spring 70 which can cause the plate 56 to swing suddenly counter-clockwise when groove 69 enables same, for instance in 71. On the other hand, to cause plate 66 to swing clockwise, said groove 69 is provided with a slide ramp 72. In this case the plate swinging is no more sudden, but rather gradual.

The small plate 67 is connected to a connecting rod 73 which moves according to the shape of groove 74 provided on the opposite side of disk 56.

Said connecting rod 73 is connected with one end thereof to a return spring which acts on plate 67 in the same way as return spring 70 acts on said small plate 66.

In the embodiment shown in figures 3a to 3c, the small plate 66 is divided lengthwise into two symmetrical zones, one opaque zone 76 and another transparent zone 77, and said small plate 67 is divided lengthwise into two symmetrical zones, one opaque zone 78 and another transparent zone 79.

The width of opaque zone 78 from plate 67 is such thatwhen both plates are accurately superposed in the position shown in figure 3a, there remains a passage for light that corresponds precisely to the thickness of transparent panel 2 In such a position, only the inscriptions from panel 2 are visible for the viewer.

In the following position of small plates 66 and 67 as shown in figure 3b, both plates have been driven to the right over a distance which corresponds to one transparent panel thickness, while remaining accurately superposed and this time only the inscriptions on panel 3 are visible for the viewer.

In the following position of small plates 66 and 67, shown in figure 3c, plate 67 only is suddenly returned to the original position thereof, which enables lighting up both panels at the same time.

In the light apparatus as shown in figures 4 and 5, said device 17 for influencing the light sent out by source 6 before said light reaching transparent panels 2 and 3 comprises a small plate 18 sandwiched between source 6 and panels 2 and 3, and means to guide and move said plate 18. The small plate 18 is divided into lengthwise zones 19,20,21 which influence differently the light from source 6.

The zone 21 as shown is divided into aligned sections which influence differently the light from source 6 which passes therethrough. Each one from said lengthwise zones 19,20,21 has the axis thereof in parallel relationship with the lighted edges from transparent panels 2 and 3 and has a length which is substantially equal to the length of said edges, the width of each zone 19, 20, 21 being substantially equal to the thickness of each panel 2, 3. Said small plate 18 is guided by means of two ball-and-groove mechanisms 22 and 23 which are arranged at two ends thereof in such a way as to be movable cross-wise relative to said transparent panels 2 and 3. Such movement is performed under the control of a cam 24 which is rotated in the direction shown by arrow 25, by an electric motor 26.There have also been provided return means comprised of springs 27 arranged between said small plate and housing 28, to retain constantly one plate edge engaged with cam 24. The cam profile is such that said cam causes sudden displacements of plate 18 over a distance which corresponds substantially to the thickness of each panel 2,3. Said zones 19,20, 21, possibly divided into sections, influence the light by colouring same or by stopping same relative to the lighted edge from each panel 2,3. The alternating motion of said small plate 18 allows to obtain cyclic variations in the colour or darkenings for the inscriptions or letterings provided on said panels 2 and 3.

It must be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments and that many changes can be brought therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For instance, it is possible to provide a plurality of small superposed plates which are driven by cams or grooved disks, which are mounted in a sequence on the same driving shaft, which does not substantially increses the volume taken by the apparatus.

Claims

1. Light apparatus comprising at least one transparent panel provided with inscriptions or markings obtained by engraving or grinding on at least one large side thereof, at least one light source so arranged as to light up the panel or panels through at least one edge thereof, part of the light passing through the transparent panel or panels being deflected by said inscriptions towards a viewer, and at least one device so arranged as to influence the light sent out by the light source before said light reaching the transparent panel or panels, in which said device for influencing the light comprises at least one small plate with a length which is at least equal to the edge or edges to be lighted from the transparent panel or panels, said plate being sandwiched between the light source and said edge or edges with the lengthwise axis thereof in parallel relatioriship with the lengthwise axis of said edge or edges, said small plate being possibly divided into a number of zones influencing differently the light sent out by said source, and driving means for moving said plate or plates substantially cross-wise to the transparent panel or panels in both directions, possibly with jerky movements.

2. Light apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said device for influencing the light comprises a plurality of sandwiched small plates, said plates lying according to the movement displacement imparted thereto by said driving-means, in positions where said plates are partly or completely superposed relative to one another, or else not superposed.

3. Light apparatus as defined in either one of claims 1 and 2, in which each small sandwiched plate is shaped in cross-section as an arc of circle and between the light source and the edge or edges to be lighted up from the transparent panel or panels, said small plate is so supported as to be swingable about an axis in parallel relationship with the lengthwise axis of said edges and passing through the center of said arc of circle.

4. Light apparatus as defined in either one of claims 1 and 2, in which each small sandwiched plate is flat and so supported as to be slidable in a plane at right angle to said panels.

5. Light apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which said driving means comprise a driving motor imparting to at least one cam a rotating movement, at least one link driven at the one end thereof by one of the provided cams with an alternating traverse movement, and connected at the other end thereof to the plate or one plate from the sandwiched plates, or to the holder thereof, in such a way as to impart to said small plate an alternating motion cross-wise to the panels, and return means so arranged as to permanently retain each provided link engaged with that cam it does cooperate with.

6. Light apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which by way of cam, a groove is provided in the one flat side of a disk rotated by the motor about a shaft in parallel relationship with the lengthwise axis of the panel edge or edges to be lighted up, and said apparatus further comprises as link, a connecting rod provided with a lug guided inside said groove and connected with the one end thereof, to the swinging disk shaft in such a way as to be slidable thereon at right angle to said panels to be lighted up, and with the other end thereof to the small sandwiched plate or one small sandwiched plate or to the holder thereof, in such a way asto allow a relative swinging between said components.

7. Light apparatus as defined in claim 6, in which at least one cam groove has a shape that comprises concentric segments with different radius and segments connecting said concentric segments inside some of which at least the lug is jerkily biased from the one concentric segment to the other, under the action of a return spring which is connected with the one end thereof to the corresponding link.

8. Light apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which said spring is connected with the other end thereof to an arm which is swingable about the swinging axis of the corresponding small sandwiched plate, said arm being driven with a swinging alternating motion by another connecting rod which is driven by means of a control groove provided in that disk side opposite to the side provided with said groove used as cam, said control groove and said cam groove being so arranged as to return suddenly the sandwiched driven plate lug along all of said segments connecting said concentric segments from the cam groove.

9. Light apparatus as defined in any one of claims 5 to 8, which further comprises a plurality of disks having a groove used as cam on at least the one side thereof, said disks being arranged in parallel relationship to one another on a driven shaft which is driven by the apparatus motor, each one of the provided cams enabling to impart different motions to the different small driven plates.

10. Light apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means for moving each small plates cross-wise to the transparent panel or panels, comprise means for guiding said small plate cross-wise to said panel, a cam cooperating with said small plate, a motor rotating said cam and means for returning said small plate which are so arranged as to constantly retain said plate engaged with said cam.

11. Light apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which at least one cam is so profiled as to cause during one revolution thereof, at least one jerky movement of said small plate over a distance as measured at right angle to the panel or panels, which corresponds substantially to the thickness of one panel.

12. Light apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, which further comprises a first protecting plate arranged in substantially parallel relationship with that large panel side remote from the viewer and adjacent thereto, the light originating from the light source being stopped on the edge of said protecting plate.

13. Light apparatus as defined in claim 12, which further comprises a second transparent protecting plate, which is arranged in substantially parallel relationship with that large side from said panel facing the viewer and adjacent to said side, the light originating from the light source being stopped on the edge of said second protecting plate.

14. Light apparatus as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings.