Patent ID: 6401373
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G09F

Abstract:
An illuminated address display, comprising:a generally rectangular light housing having a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and first and second side panels, said housing defining an open front and an interior space; a power source; a light source electrically coupled to said power source and positioned in said interior space so as to project light forwardly through said open front, said light source including at least two light bulbs, each light bulb having a different color; a reflective material covering said back, first, and second side panels for reflecting light projected from said light source and enhancing the forward projection of light therefrom; a switch electrically connected to said power source and to said at least two light bulbs, said switch adapted to selectively energize a respective one of said at least two light bulbs of said light source, said switch adapted to selectively intermittently energize said respective one of said at least two light bulbs of said light source; a pair of spaced apart metallic members extending longitudinally between said first and second side panels; a plurality of character plates, each character plate having a cutout in the shape of a respective alphanumeric character and having a pair of spaced apart magnetic elements attached to one side thereof for adhering to said pair of metallic members, whereby each said character plate is adapted to be removably attached to said metallic members and light from said light source passes through said cutouts when said light source is energized; wherein a front edge of said first side panel is recessed from front edges of said top and bottom panels such that said character plates are slidably received therebetween, said pair of metallic members positioned on said top and bottom panels between said first and second side panels, whereby said magnetic elements adhere to said metallic members when said character plates are positioned between said top and bottom panels; a transparent plate mounted between said metallic members and extending longitudinally between said first and second side panels; and a light sensor mounted on said top panel and electrically connected to said light source for automatically energizing or de-energizing a predetermined light bulb of said light source according to a sensed level of ambient light.