GB2431764A

GB2431764A - Illuminated flexible sign

Info

Publication number: GB2431764A
Application number: GB0522099A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Cox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-10-29
Filing date: 2005-10-29
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Also published as: GB0522099D0

Abstract

A device to display an illuminated sign. The device comprises a flexible panel carrying a transparent sign 8 and a light source 3 connected to said panel. The light source 3 is operable to illuminate and thereby display the sign. The panel comprises a flexible rear light transmissive layer 5 and a flexible front patterned layer 10 defining the sign. There is also provided a kit of parts to be assembled to provide such a device. The device may display the sign from a vehicle window.

Description

I

ILLUMINATED SIGN

The present invention relates to a device to display an illuminated sign, particularly but not exclusively, a device to display an illuminated sign from a window of a motor vehicle.

Various systems have been developed to display illuminated signs from windows of shops and vehicles. For example, some systems comprise one or more rigid pre-printed signs which are supported by a housing mounted to the rear parcel shelf of a vehicle. A light source, such as a light bulb, is provided within the housing and is activated to illuminate the sign when the driver of the vehicle operates a switch or applies the brakes of the vehicle. A problem with such systems is that the range of signs available to the user is limited to the pre-printed signs provided by the manufacturer. Moreover, the signs, housing and associated light source are generally quite large and heavy making such systems cumbersome and unsightly.

Other vehicle mounted systems, which do not require mounting to the rear parcel shelf of the vehicle, comprise signs incorporated into the front or rear bumper assembly of the vehicle. These systems typically involve cutting a sign into the bumper which is illuminated by a light source mounted within the bumper. A limitation with systems of this kind is that the range of signs available is extremely limited. Moreover, to substitute a sign with another sign the bumper assembly of the vehicle must be replaced at considerable cost to the vehicle owner.

More advanced systems which provide the user with greater choice in the type of sign which can be displayed employ electronic signs. For example, an array of a large number of light emitting diodes can be provided at the rear of the vehicle and controlled by a user from within the vehicle entering the desired sign or message into an electronic control unit using a keyboard. Such systems are, however, much more expensive than systems incorporating a pre-printed sign. Moreover, the electronic sign must be rigid to support the LEDs in their required pattern and the unit is typically quite large and heavy which again makes these systems difficult to install and requires the unit to be securely mounted on the rear parcel shelf of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device to display an illuminated sign comprising a flexible laminated panel carrying a transparent sign and a light source connected to said panel, said laminated panel comprising a flexible rear light transmissive layer and a flexible front patterned layer defining said sign, said light source being operable to illuminate and thereby display the sign.

The present invention therefore provides a relatively cheap and simple means for a user to display any desirable illuminated sign. The flexibility of the panel enables its shape to easily be adjusted in any desirable direction to suit a particular application, for example, to conform to the curved surface profile of the rear window of a motor vehicle to which the panel is to be connected.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a kit of parts to be assembled to provide a device to display an illuminated sign, said kit of parts comprising a flexible laminated panel carrying a transparent sign and a light source to be connected to said panel, said panel comprising a flexible rear light transmissive layer and a flexible front patterned layer defining said sign, said light source being operable when connected to said panel to illuminate and thereby display the sign.

It is preferred that at least one of said front and rear layers comprises a polymeric material, such as an elastomeric material. Preferably the laminated panel possesses sufficient flexibility to be contorted by hand. The or each polymeric material may be a curable substantially transparent gel, such as a heat or UV curable gel. In addition to said light source being optically connected to said panel, said light source may be physically connected to said rear light transmissive layer.

Preferably the device further comprises affixing means to affix the panel to a surface of a window. In a preferred embodiment, in use, the affixing means affixes the panel to the window with sufficient strength to support the device. The device is preferably light-weight, for example the device may weigh less than 500 grams, more preferably less than 250 grams and most preferably less than 100 grams.

Furthermore, the panel is preferably thin, by way of example, it is preferred that the panel is equal to or less than around 15 mm thick, more preferably equal to or less than 10 mm thick, and most preferably around 5 mm thick. Providing such a thin, light-weight device aids in the ease with which the panel can be manipulated and affixed to the window. Preferably, in use, the affixing means reversibly affixes the sign to the vehicle window. It is preferred that the affixing means enables the sign to be affixed substantially flush against the window.

The affixing means preferably comprises an adhesive applied to a front surface of the sign which is to be affixed to the window. The adhesive may be a transparent adhesive, which can be applied over a portion or substantially the whole of said surface of the sign. Adhesive may also be provided on the opposite surface of the sign to enable it to be connected to the rear light transmissive layer or to an intermediate layer of material which is directly connected to the rear layer.

The affixing means may comprise at least one suction pad, which may be provided in any appropriate arrangement, for example, the at least one suction pad may be provided adjacent to the edge of the sign.

It is preferred that the sign is a stencilled transparent sign, which may be produced by a user of the device, but it will be appreciated, that one or more pre-stencilled or pre-printed signs may be provided. The sign may be made from a relatively thin layer of opaque material attached to a thicker transparent supporting layer of material. The thinner opaque layer may be stencilled or cut to reveal the transparent layer beneath so as to provide the sign, thus obviating the need for additional clamping to hold the opaque layer in place during stencilling/cutting or a cutting surface to protect the surface on which the sign is being produced. The supporting layer may be clear or coloured and/or patterned.

In addition, the device may further comprise a flexible coloured transparent sheet to be located between the light source and the sign. It is envisaged that the coloured transparent sheet may be red in colour although it may be of any desirable colour, such as orange, blue, green etc. It is further preferred that the coloured transparent sheet is made from a polymeric material. The coloured transparent sheet may be made of a similar material to the sign. The coloured sheet may be significantly thicker than the sign so that the coloured sheet can act as a relatively strong supporting layer for the sign.

Preferably the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. The light source is preferably powered by a power supply connected to the panel which provides the advantage of the device being an independent unit carrying all of the components of the device with no external wires or the like. It is preferred that the power supply comprises at least one battery unit.

Rather than using batteries the device may further comprise a connector to connect the light source to an external power supply, such as a vehicle power supply. While the power may be taken directly from the wiring circuit of the vehicle, the connector may be connected to the vehicle power supply via a cigar lighter unit.

It is preferred that the device is arranged to display the sign from a vehicle window.

Conveniently the light source may be operable upon activation of a vehicle light, such as a brake light or indicator.

With regard to the kit of parts forming the second aspect of the present invention, preferably the kit further comprises a stencilling kit to be used to provide said transparent sign.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective schematic view of the components of a device in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

Referring now to figure 1, the device 1 of the present invention comprises a flexible multi-layer laminated panel (shown in a partly assembled state in figure 1), which is optically connected to a light unit 2, and a battery unit 3.

The rear layer of the multi-layer panel comprises a light transmissive layer 4 made from a polymeric elastomer material and a flexible opaque backing layer 5 provided on a rear surface of layer 4 such that, upon activation of light unit 2, layer 4 transmits light from its front surface 6. The middle layer of the multi-layer panel is a flexible coloured transparent layer 7 made from a polymeric material. The front layer of the panel is a flexible stencilled transparent sign 8 which comprises a flexible transparent backing layer 9 (visible through the lettering forming the sign) made from a polymeric material and a relatively thin flexible facing layer 10 of opaque material into which a series of letters 11 have been cut to form the transparent sign.

The light unit 2 incorporates two light emitting diodes which are powered by battery unit 3 and are operated by activation of a switch (not shown). The light unit 2 can be controlled to provide continuous light or flashing light as desired. The light unit 2 and battery unit 3 are located within an opaque housing connected to the side of the panel. The housing has been cut away to show the light unit 2 and battery unit 3 such that only the rear wall 12 of the housing is visible in figure 1.

It is envisaged that the device 1 can be provided fully assembled or as a kit of parts comprising the components shown in figure 1 which can be assembled to provide the functioning device 1.

A user may be provided with one or more preprinted signs or, as described above in relation to figure 1, the kit may include one or more blanks comprising the relatively thin flexible opaque material 10 supported on the thicker transparent layer 9 into which any desirable sign (such as the sign 11 shown in figure 1) may be provided by, for example, stencilling. A layer of adhesive, protected by a removeable release paper, is provided on the rear surface of the preprinted signs or blanks to enable them to be affixed to coloured transparent layer 7.

Once the device 1 has been assembled it is then located at any convenient position within a vehicle with the sign 8 facing outwards so as to be visible from outside the vehicle. The front surface of the sign 8 is affixed to the inner surface of the vehicle window by adhesive applied over substantially the entire front surface of the sign 8.

The adhesive has sufficient strength such that the entire device 1 can be supported against the vehicle window without needing to rest on another structure, for example, the rear parcel shelf of the vehicle. In this way, the sign 8 can be displayed at any height from any window of the vehicle and does not have to be mounted on the rear parcel shelf of the vehicle as is the case with many prior devices. This feature significantly increases the flexibility of the device 1.

The materials from which the different layers of the panel are formed have sufficient flexibility to enable them to adapt in shape to conform to the slight curvature often present in the inner surface of a window, such as the rear windscreen of a vehicle. In this way the panel can be affixed flush to the window thus ensuring a secure connection between the device 1 and the window.

It will be understood that numerous modifications can be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the underlying inventive concept and that these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. For example, the middle coloured transparent layer 7 and transparent backing layer 9 are not essential and one or both of these layer may be omitted if desired and the patterned layer 10 defining the sign 11 affixed directly onto the front surface of the transmissive layer 4. Any number of layers of coloured transparent material 7 can be provided and one or more of these layers can be provided with some form of pattern or design. Moreover, the blank from which the sign is fonned may itself be coloured.

Any appropriate light source can be used to illuminate the sign, for example although LEDs offer a simple and convenient light source, conventional light bulbs may, for example, be used. Moreover, any number of LEDs may be provided having any desirable colour and arrangement.

It will be evident to the skilled person that the size and shape of the device may take any convenient form and the panel may be attached to the window in any desirable orientation. For example, the design of the device of the present invention enables a sign to be provided along the edge of any type of window and is not limited to being provided along the bottom edge of a window. While the device is eminently suitable to be mounted in the window of a vehicle it will be apparent to the skilled person that it is suitable to be mounted in any type of window, such as a shop window, where, for example, it could be used for advertising.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device to display an illuminated sign comprising a flexible laminated panel carrying a transparent sign and a light source connected to said panel, said laminated panel comprising a flexible rear light transmissive layer and a flexible front patterned layer defining said sign, said light source being operable to illuminate and thereby display the sign.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and rear layers comprises a polymeric material.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said light source is physically connected to said rear light transmissive layer.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises affixing means to affix the panel to a surface of a window.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein, in use, the affixing means affixes the panel to the window with sufficient strength to support the device.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, in use, the affixing means reversibly affixes the panel to the window.

7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the flexible front patterned layer comprises a flexible transparent supporting layer and a thinner opaque patterned layer defining the sign.

8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sign is a stencilled transparent sign.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises a flexible coloured transparent sheet located between the light source and the sign.

10. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

II. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source is powered by a power supply connected to the panel.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is arranged to display said sign from a vehicle window.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the light source is operable upon activation of a light of the vehicle.

14. A device to display an illuminated sign substantially as hererinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

15. A kit of parts to be assembled to provide a device to display an illuminated sign, said kit of parts comprising a flexible laminated panel canying a transparent sign and a light source to be connected to said panel, said panel comprising a flexible rear light transmissive layer and a flexible front patterned layer defining said sign, said light source being operable when connected to said panel to illuminate and thereby display the sign.

16. A kit of parts according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said front and rear layers comprises a polymeric material.

17. A kit of parts according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the kit further comprises a stencilling kit to be used to provide said transparent sign.

18. A kit of parts according to claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the kit further comprises affixing means to enable the panel to be affixed to a surface of a window.

19. A kit of parts according to claim 18, wherein, in use, the affixing means affixes the panel to the window with sufficient strength to support the device.

20. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the kit further comprises a coloured transparent sheet to be located between the light source and the sign in the assembled device.

21. A kit of parts according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the kit further comprises a power supply for the light source, said power supply being configured for connection to the panel.

22. A kit of parts to be assembled to provide a device to display an illuminated sign substantially as hererinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.