Illuminated sign apparatus

A sign apparatus includes a front display panel and a solid halo panel that are illuminated by a light module. The front display panel is arranged along one side of a frame and the solid halo panel is arranged on the other side of the frame. The light module is disposed within the frame between the front display panel and the solid halo panel. The solid halo panel follows a contour of the front display panel and extends beyond a periphery of the front display panel such that the solid halo panel forms a halo border along the periphery of the front display panel when viewed from a direction toward the front display panel.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to illuminated signs. More particularly, to signage having multi-layer illuminated panels.

BACKGROUND

It is common practice for organizations, such as companies and/or businesses, to have a sign mounted outside or inside of their facility. Such signs are typically designed to identify and attract consumers and/or clients to the organization.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides for a sign apparatus that includes a front display panel and a solid halo panel disposed in parallel with the front display panel. The front display panel and the solid halo panel are attached to a frame, such that one side of the frame is coupled to the front display panel and the other side of the frame is coupled to the solid halo panel. A light module is disposed within the frame to illuminate the front display panel and the solid halo panel.

The solid halo panel follows a contour of the front display panel and extends beyond a perimeter of the front display panel, such that the solid halo panel forms a border along the perimeter of the front display panel. The solid halo panel creates a halo effect (i.e., illuminated ring) about the front panel display. Accordingly, when viewed in a direction facing the front display panel, the sign apparatus has a solid halo that highlights the contour of the front display panel.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the frame has an opaque surface to prevent light emitted from the light module to transmit through the frame.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the light module may include a first light module for illuminating the front display panel and a second light module separate from the first light module for illuminating the solid halo panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Organizations, such as restaurants and retail establishments, typically have an illuminated sign for informing consumers of the location of their establishment. A sign apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid halo panel that extends past a perimeter of a front display panel to highlight the character and/or shape formed by the front display panel. Thus, the sign apparatus provides a halo effect for highlighting the logo represented by the sign apparatus.

The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.FIG. 1illustrates a sign apparatus100made of characters and/or shapes for conveying information of an organization. The characters and/or shapes of the sign apparatus100may be provided as a member102. As an example, the sign apparatus100conveys a logo of a business and includes members102A to102F, which are collectively referred to as members102. The sign apparatus100of the present disclosure may be designed to convey various information, and is not limited to the logo depicted in the figures.

With reference toFIG. 2, the member102includes a front display panel104and a solid halo panel106, which are collectively referred to as panels104and106. The front display panel104of the member102is a front face of the sign apparatus100, and the solid halo panel106is behind the front display panel104. The panels104and106may be made of acrylic, vinyl, and/or another plastic-like substrate. In particular, the panels104and106are configured to allow light that is being emitted within the apparatus100to transmit through the panels104and106. For example, the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106may be a clear plastic substrate that has a colored film, such as colored vinyl, disposed on the surfaces of the substrate. The colored film may be disposed on an outer surface of the panels104and106.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the member102includes a frame108that supports the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106. The front display panel104is disposed on one side of the frame108(i.e., a first side), and the solid halo panel106is disposed on the other side of the frame108opposite the front display panel104(i.e., a second side). The front display panel104and the solid halo panel106may be attached to the frame108by way of mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives.

The solid halo panel106is configured to follow the contour of the front display panel104and extend beyond a perimeter of the front display panel104. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, a width WSHPof the solid halo panel106is longer than a width WFDPof the front display panel104. Accordingly, when the sign apparatus100is viewed in a direction toward the front display panel104, the solid halo panel106is visible and forms a border or halo around the contour of the front display panel104.

In the example embodiment, the solid halo panel106extends beyond the perimeter of the front display panel104on either side of the front display panel104. Alternatively, the solid halo panel106may extend beyond one side of the front display panel104. Specifically,FIG. 5illustrates a solid halo panel106′ that extends beyond the perimeter of the front display panel104along one side of the front display panel104. Thus, the solid halo panel106′ is visible along the one side of the front display panel104.

The sign apparatus100further includes one or more light modules. More particularly, the sign apparatus100includes a first light module110A and a second light module110B for illuminating the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106, respectively. The first light module110A and the second light module110B may collectively be referred to as light modules110. Each of the light modules110includes multiple light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDS), to illuminate the member102. The light modules110are disposed within the frame108. Specifically, the front display panel104, the frame108, and the solid halo panel106define a cavity that houses the light modules110between the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106.

The light modules110are supported on a support member112that includes a divider114and an attachment member116. The divider114may extend along a width of the frame108and follow the contour of the frame108and the panels104and106. The light modules110are disposed along a surface of the divider114and may be coupled to the divider114by way of, for example, an adhesive and/or mechanical fastener. As an example, the first light module110A is positioned along a first surface of the divider114to direct light toward the front display panel104, and the second light module110B is positioned along a second surface of the divider114opposite to the first surface to direct light toward the solid halo panel106.

The attachment member116secures the position of the divider114within the frame108. For example, in the example embodiment, the attachment member116is coupled to the divider114and an inner surface120of the solid halo panel106. In lieu of or in addition to the solid halo panel108, the attachment member116may secure the position of the divider by coupling to the frame108and/or an inner surface122of the front display panel104.

In addition to supporting the light modules110, the divider114also masks the light emitted by one of the light modules110from the light emitted from the other light module110. Accordingly, the light emitted from the first light module110A, which illuminates the front display panel104, does not interfere with the light emitted from the second light module110B, which illuminates the solid halo panel106. By having the divider114, the sign apparatus100separates the illumination of the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106, such that each panel has a designated light module110for providing sufficient light to illuminate the respective panel. In addition, the divider114may also allow the sign apparatus100to use different color light sources for the first light module110A and the second light module110B.

In the example embodiment, two light modules110are used to illuminate the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106. Alternatively, the member102may include one light module110that emits light to illuminate both the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106. In such a configuration, the divider114should be configured to permit the light from the light module to pass through the divider to illuminate the panels104and106.

The front display panel104and the solid halo panel106emit the light emitted from the first light module110A and the second light module110B, respectively, to illuminate the member102. The frame108has an opaque surface, such that light from the light modules110disposed in the frame108is not emitted from side walls124of the frame108. That is, the frame108is not illuminated.

The sign apparatus100may be mounted to a background panel128, such as a wall, for support. The sign apparatus100is electrically coupled to a power supply130, such as an electrical outlet, via a power cord132. The power supply130supplies electrical power for the light modules110of the sign apparatus100.

The light source of the light modules110is strategically placed, such that the light emitted from the light modules110transmits through the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106to illuminate the member102. Specifically, the light from the light modules110is projected toward the panels104and106, such that the light is incident on and emitted from the panels104and106. Since the solid halo panel106is positioned beneath/under the front display panel104, only the edges of the solid halo panel106that extend beyond the periphery of the front display panel104are visible when the sign apparatus100is viewed in a direction toward the front display panel104. Accordingly, the solid halo panel106forms a defined outline around the contour of the front display panel104, thereby highlighting the characters and/or shapes formed by the sign apparatus100. The sign apparatus100of the present disclosure can be used for both indoor and outdoor signage.

In the example embodiment, the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106are supported by a single-piece frame108. Alternatively, the frame may be made of multiple pieces, such that the front display panel104and the solid halo panel106are supported by separate frames that are coupled together. For example,FIG. 6illustrates a sub-frame108A and a sub-frame108B that form the frame. The sub-frame108A is coupled to the front display panel104, and the sub-frame108B is coupled to the solid halo panel106. The sub-frames108A and108B are fixedly attached to each other by way of, for example, mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives. In such a configuration, each sub-frame would house a light module for lighting the respective panel.

In the example embodiment, the sign apparatus100is mounted to a background panel, such as a wall or a board. Alternatively, the sign apparatus may be fixed to a freestanding mount/stand with no background via, for example, the solid halo panel106.