GB2463027A

GB2463027A - Interchangeable illuminated signs

Info

Publication number: GB2463027A
Application number: GB0815643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Richard Waddington; Simon William Rous; Mark Andrew Gynn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-28
Filing date: 2008-08-28
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Also published as: GB0815643D0

Abstract

An interchangeable illuminated sign such as a name plate (15) for a place setting, comprises a holder (12) with a channel (22) to accommodate a lower edge of a removable transparent or translucent plate or sheet (10) carrying indicia (15) and a light source within the channel to illuminate the plate. The plate slots into the channel to project upwardly from the holder. The plate is preferably of transparent material such as polymethylmethacrylate and the indicia are preferably formed as opaque or light scattering marks on the surface of the plate. The holder is preferably made with end fittings so that a plurality of said holders can be fitted together end to end with their respective channels aligned to support a single larger plate or sheet.

Description

INTERCHANGEABLE ILLUMINATED SIGNS

This invention relates to illuminated signs of the type wherein a sheet or plate of transparent material is mounted in a holder which contains a light source positioned to illuminate the sheet or plate along its edge and thus to illuminate indicia carried by the sheet or plate.

Illuminated exit signs are known, comprising a thin sheet of plastics material or the like carrying the actual sign, sandwiched between two sheets of rigid transparent plastics material and carried a holder, typically on a ceiling, on which is mounted a light source to illuminate the sign.

There are numerous applications in which interchangeable signs may be required, for example name plates at conference tables and the like. The present invention is intended to provide illuminated but interchangeable signs, for example for names for place settings.

The present invention provides an interchangeable illuminated sign comprising a holder with a channel to accommodate a lower edge of a removable transparent or translucent plate or sheet carrying indicia and a light source within the channel to illuminate the plate. The plate preferably sits in the channel, upright or at a slight angle to the vertical. The plate preferably has a thickness only slightly less than the width of the channel so that the channel itself can support the plate in its upright position, the plate being retained in the channel only by gravity and with no other fastening means. Alternatively, the holder could be made in two parts hingedly connected together along a line parallel to the channel, so that the channel can be opened up to receive the plate and then closed to clamp the plate in position.

The light source typically comprises a light emitting diode (LED), and the holder may include a compartment for a battery or other power source.

The illuminated plate is preferably made of a rigid clear polymeric material such as polymethylmethacrylate (for example PERSPEXtm) . Indicia such as a name can be etched on to the surface of the plate, the indicia forming a light scattering surface which is illuminated when the plate is inserted into the holder and the light source switched on. The indicia may be translucent or opaque, or may be transparent but of a different colour from the plate. The plates may suitably be 3 to 8mm thick, the channel being 1 to 2mm wider than the thickness of a plate.

Because name plates of etched transparent plastics material can be made very cheaply, they can be made to be given away on occasions such as wedding receptions so that when they are used as name plates for place settings each guest can take a name plate home as a memento, the holder being retained for future use.

The holder may be designed with end formations enabling a plurality of such holders to be connected end to end, preferably with their channels aligned, to receive between them a larger sign such as a table plan or menu. The connections between adjacent holders may be provided with electrical connections, enabling the light sources in all the holders to be powered by a single source of electricity.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 shows a front view of an illuminated sign according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 1 with the name plate removed; FIG. 4 is an end view in the direction of arrow 4 in Fig. 1 with the name plate removed; FIG. 5 is a rear view of the sign with the name plate separated from the holder; FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing how a plurality of holders in accordance with the present invention can be linked together; and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a bottom plate for the holder.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectioned view of a holder according to a second embodiment of the invention in an open position; and FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the embodiment of Fig. 8 in a closed position with a plate in place.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a rigid name plate of transparent rigid plastics material such as polymethylmethacrylate has a name 15 etched on to one surface and is inserted into an elongate channel 22 of substantially square cross-section in a holder 10, in which the sign is supported along its bottom rear edge by an elongate ridge 25 forming the top rear edge of the channel.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the holder 12 is of basically cylindrical shape with a hollow chamber 20 inside, in which can be positioned a power source such as a battery and wiring for an LED 28 positioned centrally and projected into the channel 22, to be received in a gap 52 in the bottom edge of plate 10.

One end of the holder 12 is provided with a set of three coaxial circular discs 14, 16, 18 and formed integrally on the end of the holder with progressively smaller diameters. At the opposite end of the holder, shown in Fig. 4, is a matching recess 40 comprising concentric circular shoulders 42, 44, 46, each of slightly larger diameter than the corresponding disc at the opposite end of the holder. The shoulders 42, 44, 46 are coaxial with the corresponding discs so that similar holders can be fitted end to end as shown in Fig. 6, the projecting discs 14-18 with one holder fitting within the concentric recess of an adjacent one. In this way, the channels 22 of adjacent holders are aligned so that two or more holders can be used to support a larger sign such as a table plan or menu.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the name plate 10 has two elongate projections 50 along its bottom edge to engage in the channel 22, with the gap 52 between them into which the LED or other light source may project to enhance the illumination provided by it.

FIG. 7 shows a removable base plate 70 that can be secured to the underside of the chamber 20 containing the battery or other electrical supply to the LED 28. The plate may be secured for example by screws 72, and may carry and on/off switch 75 for the LED or other light source.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 7 the plate can be simply dropped into the channel and retained there by gravity. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment in which the holder is formed in two halves 84, 85 connected together by a hinge 80 to allow the two halves to pivot apart to open the channel 90 and allow the plate to be inserted and then clamped and retained by mechanical engagement when the holder is closed. For example, the gap 92 at the bottom of the plate may be shaped to fit around the LED 94 and thus be retained by it. Retaining means such as a snap fit (not shown) can be provided to retain the holder in its closed position.

It will be appreciated that the holder and sign of the present invention may be provided in many different shapes and sizes, from 10cm or less in length for place settings to, for example, 25cm for a name plate at a conference table, intended to be seen from a greater distance, or perhaps 30cm or more for seating plans and the like.

The name plate can be made easily and cheaply, being cut to a simple shape, the name or other indicia being formed on the plate surface, for example by laser etching, which may be computer controlled. The holders, being intended for repeated use, can be made more robust, for example of lightweight metal or rigid moulded plastics material.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An interchangeable illuminated sign comprising a holder with a channel to accommodate a lower edge of a removable transparent plate or sheet carrying indicia and a light source within the channel to illuminate the plate, the plate being insertable into and removable from the channel and retained in the channel in a position in which it projects upwardly from the support.
2. An illuminated sign according to claim 1 wherein when the support is placed on a horizontal surface and the plate held in the channel is upright or at an angle of less than 25° from the vertical.
3. An illuminated sign according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.
4. An illuminated sign according to any preceding claim wherein the holder is adapted to house a source of electrical power for the light source.
5. An illuminated sign according to any preceding claim wherein the plate carrying indicia is made from a rigid polymeric material.
6. An illuminated sign according to claim 5 wherein the rigid polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.
7. An illuminated sign according to any preceding claim wherein the plate or sheet is made of transparent material and the indicia are formed on the surface thereof as opaque or light scattering marks.
8. An illuminated sign according to claim 7 wherein the indicia are formed on the surface of the plate or sheet by etching.
9. An illuminated sign according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of said holders are connectable end to end with their respective channels aligned by a single said sheet or plate which can be supported in a plurality of said channels.