GB2133195A - Illuminated sign - Google Patents

Abstract

An illuminated sign comprises a translucent panel, a sheet bearing the legend of the sign detachably secured by adhesive to one face, preferably the back face, of the panel and means to illuminate the sheet and the panel. The legend is of contrasting light transmissive properties in relation to the background of the panel. The illumination means is positioned behind the panel within a light proof housing. The panel may be of transparent material, one face of which has been coated with translucent paint or ink. The legend may be transparent with the background of the sheet opaque.

Description

SPECIFICATION Illuminated sign This invention relates to illuminated signs and is concerned with the provision of certain improvements therein.

The invention has application in Post Offices, Banks and other buildings which are visited by members of the public for the purposes of conducting business over a counter which is divided into service positions. Each of these positions may be provided with a sign the purpose of which is either to distinguish between the services available at the respective positions where these differ from one position to the other, or to indicate in the case of a number of positions in the one building at which a given service may be available, as to whether or not a particular position is actually open for service.

A known form of illuminated sign for use in such applications comprises a transparent panel which may be of acrylic material. The back of the panel is painted in a suitable colour and carries the legend to be illuminated which is "stencilled out" of the paint and is coloured silver. Behind this printed panel is a light fitting.

However this known form of panel suffers from the disadvantage that the sign may not readily be changed. Furthermore, the illuminated legend is sometimes not clear due to light tending to "leak" to either side of the lettering and also the legend is sometimes quite readable when the sign is switched off.

The invention is concerned with the provision of a sign which represents an improvement at least in regard to the first of these disadvantages.

According to the present invention an illuminated sign comprises a translucent panel, a sheet bearing the legend of the sign which legend is contrasting light transmissive properties in relation to the background of the sheet, secured to one face of the panel, and means to illuminate the sheet and the panel.

Preferably the legend is transparent and the background of the sheet opaque.

The illuminating means may be positioned on the same side of the panel as the sheet with the other face of the panel forming the front face of the sign.

The panel may be of material which is, or has been rendered, virtually opaque under normal lighting conditions but which will transmit strong light.

One embodiment of the invention in the form of an illuminated sign for use in Post Offices will now be described. The sign bearing lettering e.g.

"Service" comprises a panel transparent material the back of which is sprayed with translucent paint or ink. The sign also comprises a sheet of transparent flexible material which is of a similar size to the panel and which is adhesively secured, in a readily removable manner, to the sprayed face of the panel, being the rear face of the panel in use. The sheet carries the required lettering for the sign and this is in clear in an opaque background. Lastly the sign comprises a source of illumination positioned behind the panel and within a light proof housing behind the sign face.

This construction of sign provides a ready means of changing the sign by mere replacement of the removable sheet and with a correctly chosen material for the rear face of the panel, the lettering of the sign may be clearly visible when the sign is illuminated but be rendered invisible, in normal ambient lighting conditions, when the sign is switched off.

Furthermore, the use of transparent material for the removable letter bearing sheet which is reverse printed in an opaque background reduces the phenomenon of light "leakage" previously referred to and also results in a reduction in the manufacturing costs compared with the known sign referred to above.

In an alternative the sheet of flexible material may comprise Black and White or Colour adhesive faced film positives to produce "secret" signs when illuminated will display a complete photographic image. This would have application in advertising displays.

Claims (Filed on 22/12/83) 1. An illuminated sign comprising a translucent panel, a sheet bearing the legend of the sign which legend is of contrasting light transmissive properties in relation to the background of the sheet, secured to one face of the panel, and means to illuminate the sheet and the panel.

2. A sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legend is transparent and the background of the sheet opaque.

3. A sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the illuminating means is positioned on the same side of the panel as the sheet with the other face of the panel forming the front face of the sign.

4. A sign as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the panel is of material which is, or has been rendered, virtually opaque under normal lighting conditions but which will transmit strong light.

5. A sign as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the panel is of transparent material one face of which has a coating thereon of translucent paint or ink.

6. A sign as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the sheet is adhesively secured in a readily removable manner, to the panel.

7. A sign as claimed in claim 3 or any dependent claim thereof and comprising a source of illumination positioned behind the panel and within a light proof housing.

8. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Illuminated sign This invention relates to illuminated signs and is concerned with the provision of certain improvements therein. The invention has application in Post Offices, Banks and other buildings which are visited by members of the public for the purposes of conducting business over a counter which is divided into service positions. Each of these positions may be provided with a sign the purpose of which is either to distinguish between the services available at the respective positions where these differ from one position to the other, or to indicate in the case of a number of positions in the one building at which a given service may be available, as to whether or not a particular position is actually open for service. A known form of illuminated sign for use in such applications comprises a transparent panel which may be of acrylic material. The back of the panel is painted in a suitable colour and carries the legend to be illuminated which is "stencilled out" of the paint and is coloured silver. Behind this printed panel is a light fitting. However this known form of panel suffers from the disadvantage that the sign may not readily be changed. Furthermore, the illuminated legend is sometimes not clear due to light tending to "leak" to either side of the lettering and also the legend is sometimes quite readable when the sign is switched off. The invention is concerned with the provision of a sign which represents an improvement at least in regard to the first of these disadvantages. According to the present invention an illuminated sign comprises a translucent panel, a sheet bearing the legend of the sign which legend is contrasting light transmissive properties in relation to the background of the sheet, secured to one face of the panel, and means to illuminate the sheet and the panel. Preferably the legend is transparent and the background of the sheet opaque. The illuminating means may be positioned on the same side of the panel as the sheet with the other face of the panel forming the front face of the sign. The panel may be of material which is, or has been rendered, virtually opaque under normal lighting conditions but which will transmit strong light. One embodiment of the invention in the form of an illuminated sign for use in Post Offices will now be described. The sign bearing lettering e.g. "Service" comprises a panel transparent material the back of which is sprayed with translucent paint or ink. The sign also comprises a sheet of transparent flexible material which is of a similar size to the panel and which is adhesively secured, in a readily removable manner, to the sprayed face of the panel, being the rear face of the panel in use. The sheet carries the required lettering for the sign and this is in clear in an opaque background. Lastly the sign comprises a source of illumination positioned behind the panel and within a light proof housing behind the sign face. This construction of sign provides a ready means of changing the sign by mere replacement of the removable sheet and with a correctly chosen material for the rear face of the panel, the lettering of the sign may be clearly visible when the sign is illuminated but be rendered invisible, in normal ambient lighting conditions, when the sign is switched off. Furthermore, the use of transparent material for the removable letter bearing sheet which is reverse printed in an opaque background reduces the phenomenon of light "leakage" previously referred to and also results in a reduction in the manufacturing costs compared with the known sign referred to above. In an alternative the sheet of flexible material may comprise Black and White or Colour adhesive faced film positives to produce "secret" signs when illuminated will display a complete photographic image. This would have application in advertising displays. Claims (Filed on 22/12/83)

1. An illuminated sign comprising a translucent panel, a sheet bearing the legend of the sign which legend is of contrasting light transmissive properties in relation to the background of the sheet, secured to one face of the panel, and means to illuminate the sheet and the panel.

2. A sign as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legend is transparent and the background of the sheet opaque.

3. A sign as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the illuminating means is positioned on the same side of the panel as the sheet with the other face of the panel forming the front face of the sign.

4. A sign as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the panel is of material which is, or has been rendered, virtually opaque under normal lighting conditions but which will transmit strong light.

5. A sign as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, wherein the panel is of transparent material one face of which has a coating thereon of translucent paint or ink.

6. A sign as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the sheet is adhesively secured in a readily removable manner, to the panel.

7. A sign as claimed in claim 3 or any dependent claim thereof and comprising a source of illumination positioned behind the panel and within a light proof housing.

8. An illuminated sign substantially as hereinbefore described.