NEON ILLUMINATOR AND HOLDER

Abstract: An illuminator has a single neon light tube (40) bent into a grid-like shape housed within a shallow box (10) less than two inches in thickness and covered with an acrylic diffuser (20) to ensure an even distribution of light. The neon tube (40) is powered by a power source with a ballast (34) enclosed with the tube in the box, a switch and a variable intensity device (36). A holder channel (50) along one edge of the diffuser holds gravity-applied holder elements (70) for holding film and materials against the diffuser (20).

Description: NEON ILLUMINATOR AND HOLDER Background of the Invention The invention relates to illuminators and, particularly, to illuminators for viewing x-ray films. Other applications and adaptations include tracing tables for artists and architect and view boxes for film processors and photographers, lighted displays and signs, lighted panels for decorative special effect and general lighting where a compact, low-maintenance, uniform- luminance is required. Examples of prior art devices constructed for illuminators are found in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, particularly as classified in Class 362, Illumination, subclasses 97 and 216; and Class 250, Radiant Energy, subclass 204. Examples of patents from those subclasses are 2,567,561 3,112,887 4,292,663 2,763,772 3,208,174 4,335,421 4,184,194 Patents 4,335,421, 4,184,194, 3,112,887 and 2,567,561 describe illuminators using conventional fluorescent tubes. The fluorescent tubes and their mountings and starters re¬ quire bulky cases which are not often suited to an examination room or office environment. Intensity of the fluorescent tubes often requires a wide spacing of the tube or special light reflective and distribution arrangements which add to the bulkiness and which may provide uneven lighting on the diffuser. OMPI A fluorescent source viewing box, as shown in Patent 4,292,663, uses a mechanical dimmer control in the optical path of the fluorescent illuminated system, which adds to the bulkiness. Patent 2,763,772 describes a photo-illumination system for mounting around a camera lens. No diffuser is provided .and no circuit for the powering of the neon tube is described or ..is included. Patent 3,208,174 describes an illumination device which uses a fluorescent light source and screens or light conductors in a deep box to imitate a neon-type light. Problems exist in the prior art in that known diffusing devices require relatively deep boxes and produce less than, even distribution on the surface of a diffuser. High intensity fluorescent bulbs of the conventional illuminators require thick housings, wide spacings and special diffusing devices to try to approach even light distribution on the diffuser. The thick illuminator boxes are .unsuited for modern offices in which expensive floor space often requires smaller offices and conservation of space within offices. It is convenient to permanently mount x-ray film illuminating devices on walls along standing areas of an office or on walls along passages between spaces for office equipment, such as desks or examination tables. Often, it is OMPI useful to mount the illuminators near doorways. In such cases, extra inches of thickness require wider passageways or larger offices and often require special movements to avoid the permanently mounted illuminators when entering or leaving a room or walking between positions wihtin the room. No box illuminators are preferable, but narrow boxes have not been achievable with conventional devices. ' hen illuminators are used on desks, narrowness is important so that the diffuser surface not be raised above the level on which.drawings or tracings may be comfortably made. OMPI Summary of the -Invention The present invention provides illuminator apparatus with a box less than two inches in thickness and with uniform and variable illumination over the surface of a diffuser. A completely self-contained illuminator is provided having a thickness of about 1-3/4 inches. The viewing box extends only a short distance from a viewing .surface and may be mounted vertically on walls along passageways or near doors.. When used horizontally, the illuminator raises a working surface to a small extent and within the comfortable working height range. The preferred illuminator has a holder which is a number of independent holders pivotally mounted along one edge of the diffuser for holding film and materials on the diffuser. Other applications and adaptations include tracing tables for artists and architects; view boxes for film processors and ' photographers; lighted "EXIT" signs; other types of lighted displays and signs; and general lighting where a compact, low- maintenance, uniform luminance is required. The preferred application described here is the lighted view box for medical x-rays which consists of a sealed box approximately 14 inches wide, 20 inches high and 1-3/4 inches deep. A preferred embodiment is made of plastic, the box being either vacuum-pressure formed or injection molded in two pa ts, to be joined after assembly of the internal parts by chemical bonding or ultrasonic welding. The internal parts consist of a neon grid, connected to an electronic ballast, a simple on/off switch intercepting the power supply which is a grounded (3 wire) system, terminating in a male electrical plug which protrudes from the lower edge of the box. The face-piece of the box is molded from 1/8 inch "Opal" acrylic plastic and may be made available in various tints and shades of color to suit individual taste and to facilitate more comfortable viewing. The back-piece of the box is molded from a 1/8 inch opaque plastic which is finished in pure flat white and an esthetically pleasing color outside. The neon tubing grid is attached to the inside of the back piece, which has two slight horizontal ridges approximately 1/16 inch high located neat the top and bottom of the location of the neon grid. These ridges are marked with dots which serve as locators for the fastening means for the tubes of the grid. A preferred means of fastening is ad¬ hesive bonding with dots of the well known siliσone sealant sometimes referred to as "RTV" " applied to the guide dots on the two ridges provided for this purpose. The ballast is then connected to the power supply and switch and the face-piece and back piece are then permanently joined, providing a sealed, internally maintenance-free unit. ' A means for holding the x-ray film in place is inserted in a slot which is molded into the face-plate piece." There are two preferred designs for this apparatus. One such design is a cantilevered bar which is designed to transfer most of its own weight to a narrow line horizontally across the upper part of the face-piece. A tapered lead-in allows the film to raise the bar, -which is free to swivel upward and away from the face¬ plate. The film is thus inserted between the bar arid the face-plate and is held there by the weight of the bar and by the inward direction of pull given the bar by both gravity and friction due to its unique design. A second design is an improved modification of a well known technique utilizing a series of ball bearings held in a track which is horizontally oriented and which has a tapered configuration with a larger dimension above the ball bearings and the smaller dimension below. A slit or opening runs horizontally along the lower edge of the outer face allowing the insertion of the x-ray ilm which pushes the ball-bearings upward into the larger dimension of the taper. Upon releasing the film, both gravity and friction tend to wedge the film between the ball bearings and one wall of the tapered track. A slight tug on the film will then release it from the holder. OMPI The advantages of this type of viewer, as opposed to other existing viewers, are as follows: The use of neon tubing allows for a close-knit grid of light emission, giving a far more uniform luminance across the viewing face, and allows the light source to be very close to the viewer or viewing surface while maintaining uniformity of luminance. The use ' of the small electronic ballast allows the use of neon as opposed to fluorescent tubes as a light source. The unique electronic ballast, which was developed specifically for this unit, replaces the conventional neon ballast, which is far too large and heavy to be practical for this purpose. We have reduced the total size of the average fluorescent viewer by more than two-thirds. Neon tubing, when properly charged and driven, can have a usable life span of more than twenty years. We feel that the electronic ballast, when properly made, can approach the same life expectancy. This allows hermeti sealing of the unit, thereby eliminating dirt depreciation or deterioration of the interior parts and eliminates most maintenance problems normally encountered in viewers. No lamp replacement and no cleaning of the interior surfaces is required. The unit is also lightweight, attractive and, even in the "stacked" or multiple mode, can be simply unplugged and replaced with a new unit. A preferred viewing box illuminator apparatus has a box with a base, opposite side wall and upper and lower walls extending outward from the base. A ballast box is connected to the base and to at least one of the walls. A translucent diffuser surface is mounted on outer edges of three other walls. A film holder is mounted along one edge of the translucent diffuser viewing surface. Neon tubing mounted between the translucent diffuser viewing surface and the base extends between the ballast box and said three other walls and is connected to the ballast box for receiving starting and " operating voltage therefrom. Gas in the tubing glows and produces light which fills the apparatus and reflects from inner surfaces of the base and walls and illuminates the trans¬ lucent diffuser viewing surface for viewing films held on the surface by the film holder. Preferably, the walls are approximately 1-3/4" in height from the base to outer edges so that the viewing box extends outward only a short distance from a mounting surface. In a preferred embodiment, a divider extends between opposite side walls, and the ballast box is mounted between the divider and one other wall and is spaced from the opposite side walls. Preferably, a facial plate is mounted between the divider and the one end wall and between the opposite side walls. A switch is mounted on the facial plate, and a power source mounted on the box is connected to the switch. The switch is connected to the ballast box for selectively connecting and disconnecting the power source and the ballast box ^URB __OMPI In the preferred embodiment, the film holder includes a recess extending toward the base .and positioned between the facial plate and the translucent diffuser viewing surface, a mount is secured in the recess, and a pivoted member pivotally connected to the mount extends outward and over an adjacent surface portion of the translucent diffuser viewing surface. The pivoted member is urged toward the surface portion. Preferably, the neon tubing is positioned close to the base and close to the translucent diffuser, and the tubing comprises a single tube in a serpentine arrangement of closely spaced parallel portions connected by U-shaped portions, and the tube begins and ends adjacent the ballast box. In a preferred embodiment, the film holder has a channel formed along the said one edge of the translucent diffuser. A rod positioned in the channel extends generally, perpendicular to the opposite side walls. A plurality of individual holder elements is mounted on the rod. The holder elements have facial portions at least partially overlying the diffuser surface and have a rearward and upward extending lip for contacting an upper portion of the diffuser surface and for holding a portion of a film between the lip and the upper portion of the diffuser surface. Each element has a rearward extending lug. An opening in the lug remote from the facial portion mounts the lug and the element on the rod for promoting gravitational rotation of the facial portion and the lip downward and inward about the rod in a direction tending to press the lip against the upper portion of the diffuser. -£,-u_υ _OMPI In one preferred embodiment of the invention, an illuminator apparatus has a base, first and second opposite side walls extending outward from the base and first and second opposite end walls extending outward from the base. Ends of the end walls are connected to ends of the side walls. A planar translucent diffuser is connected to the first and second opposite side walls and to at least one of the first and second end walls generally parallel to the base. A neon tube is mounted between the base and. the diff ser. The neon tube has plural parallel sections interconnected by alternately arranged U-shaped sections for spacing the parallel sections generally equidistantly across the base. Power means mounted within the base and the walls is connected to the neon tube for illuminating the neon tube. The power means includes a ballast mounted within the base and the side walls, a switch connected to the ballast and a power source connected to the switch for illuminating the neon tube with power supplied from the power source through the switch and ballast to the neon tube and for substantially uniformly illuminating the translucent diffuser with the neon tube when the neon tube is powered. Preferably, a light intensity control is connected to the power means for controlling intensity of light produced by the neon tube. Preferably, the walls are less than two inches in height from the base to the diffuser, and the illuminator extends out¬ ward less- than two inches from a mounting surface. Preferably, a holder is mounted along one edge of the planar translucent diffuser for holding an object to be illuminated on the diffuser. Preferably, a channel extends between the first and second opposite side walls and holders mounted in the channel and extending over a portion of the diffuser adjacent the channel means for holding materials on the illuminator appara¬ tus in contact with the diffuser. Preferably, a retainer is mounted within the channel and lugs extend from the holders into the channel and engage the retainer.- In a preferred embodiment, plural holder elements are mounted along one edge of a diffuser in an illuminator apparatus. A channel extends behind the holder elements and a retainer in the channel cooperates with the holder ele¬ ments for holding articles with the holder elements on a diffuser of the illuminator apparatus. Preferably, the retainer is a rod mounted in the channel generally parallel to the diffuser and lugs extending rearward from the holder elements. Openings in the lugs remote from the holder elements receive the rod, whereby the holder elements and the lugs are rotated around the rod in the direction of the diffuser. Preferably, spacers are mounted between individual lugs and openings in the spacers receive the rod between in¬ dividual lugs,- and the lugs are positioned inward from lateral edges of the holder elements. Preferably, the diffuser is generally vertical, the channel is positioned above the diffuser, and the holder ele¬ ments and lugs rotate downward around the rod, contacting a lower portion of the holder elements with an upper portion of the diffuser and holding material therebetween for illuminat¬ ing the materials with light from the diffuser. -11a- In one embodiment, the retainer is a ridge element mounted within the channel, and the holder elements have plural lugs having recesses for connecting to the ridges. In another embodiment, the channel means comprise plural channels, and the plural channels are sloped toward the diffuser. Roller means are mounted separately within the plural channels for rolling along the sloped walls into contact with the holder means. Materials placed on the diffuser and slid between the roller means and the holder means are retained therebetween for illuminating by light from the diffuser means. These and further features and objects of the invention are apparent from. the disclosure, which includes the specifica¬ tion with the above and ongoing description and the claims and the drawings. OMPI -12- Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective, view of a preferred- embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a detail of holders used with the illuminator of the present invention. Figure 3 is a detail of alternate holders. Figure 4 is a schematic detail of the neon tube . within the illuminator of the present invention. Figure 5 is a detail of a preferred holder used with the illuminator of the present invention. Figure 6 is a view of plural holders, shown partially in. cross section, and Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the holders shown in Figures 5 and 6, as used with the illuminator. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional detail of a holder mounted on the illuminator. -13- Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring to Figure 1, an. illuminator apparatus is generally indicated by the numeral 1. The illuminator apparatus comprises a box 10 having a base 18, first and second opposite side walls 12 and upper and lower opposite end walls 14 and 16. Diffuser 20 has edges 22 and 26 which correspond with upper edges of side walls 12 and end wall 16. A viewing surface 28 on the diffuser 20 is substantially plain. Divider 30 extends between side walls 12 at a position spaced from end wall 14. Electronic ballast 34 is mounted between the end wall 14 and the divider 30 and between the base 18 and a switch panel 26' which covers the ballast area. A three-prong -connector 34 may be connected to a socket of a power cord,, or a power cord may be connected directly to the switch and electronic circuit. Switch 36 . turns the device on and controls a potentiomete to control power to the ballast 32. A neon tube 40 is bent in a serpentine arrangement, as schematically shown in Figure 4, with opposite U-shaped portions connecting parallel major portions of the tube 40. An end 42 of the neon tube is connected to the ballast 32. -14- As shown in Figure 2, one form of a holder employs a channel 50 at the top of the diffuser 20. The channel may be constructed integrally with the diffuser 20 or integrally with the plate 26 or integrally with both. Alternatively, a separate channel may be used. The channel has an upper wall 52 and a lower wall 54 and a rear wall 56 which is spaced from the base 18 in a preferred embodi¬ ment. A retainer 60 has a base 62 which is bonded or fused to the inner surface of channel wall 54. A rear wall 64 of the retainer 60 is bonded or fused to a portion of the rear wall 56 of the channel. A projection 66 is spaced downward from.the upper wall 52 of the channel. Holders 70 include facial portions 72 which extend over an upper portion of the diffuser 20. A rearward extending lug 74 has a notch of the diffuser 20. A rearward extending lug 74 has a notch 76 which cooperates with the peak 66 to permit the entire separate holder 70, including the facial area 72 and lugs 74, to rock downward. A film is slid upward beneath the sloping wall 78, and the gravitational force of the holder holds the film between an upper portion of diffuser 20 and the lip 79 of the holder. In an alternate form of a holder, as shown in Figure 3, plural individual channels 80 are formed between the diffuser 20 and the cover 26'. Each channel has a rearward extending upper wall 82, a downward and forward sloping lower wall 84 and a curved rear wall 86. A generally curved inner wall 88 receives a ball 99. Holder 90 has a facial portion 92 OMPI -15- and an upper portion 94 which is bonded or fused to a lower portion of the cover 26'. Films are slid upward along diffuser 20 below the inward sloped lower edge 98 of the holder 90 and upward through a gap 99. Gravitational force on balls 100 forces them downward and forward along curved inner wall 88 and holds the film between the balls 100 and the rear walls of the holders 90. In a preferred form of the holders, as shown in Figures 5-8, each separate holder 110 has a facial portion 112 with a lower sloping wall 114 and a securing lip 116. An upper portion 118 of the facial portion 112 is positioned over the switch cover. A lug 120 is permanently attached at 122 to the facial portion. The body 124 of the lug has an opening 126 extending therethrough at a position remote from the facial portion 112 of the holder. As shown in Figure 8, a channel generally indicated by the numeral " 130 has an upper surface 132, and a rear surface 134. A portion of divider 30 forms the lower surface of the channel 130. As shown in Figure 6, ends 136 of the channel 130 hold a rod 138. Dividers 139 have openings which receive and hold the rod 138. Rod 138 passes through openings 126 in holders 110 so that the holders rotate down¬ ward in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 8, holding films and other materials between the lips 116 and upper portions 22' of the diffuser. -16- While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the following claims. OMPI

Claims: -in- 1. Viewing box illuminator apparatus comprising a box having a base and opposite side walls and upper and lower wa ls extending outward from the base, a ballast box connected to the base and to at least one of the walls, a translucent diffuser surface mounted on outer edges of three other walls, a film holder mounted along one edge of the translucent diffuser viewing surface and neon tubing mounted between the translucent diffuser viewing surface and the base and extending between the ballast box and said three other walls and connected to the ballast box for receiving starting and operating voltage therefrom, whereby gas in the tubing glows and produces light which fills the apparatus and reflects fro inner surfaces of the base and said three walls and illuminates the translucent diffuser viewing surface for viewing films held on the surface by the film holder. 2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the walls are approximately 1-3/4" in height from the base to outer edges - whereby the viewing box extends outward only a short distance from a mounting surface.. 3. The apparatus of Claim 1 further comprising a divider extending between opposite walls and wherein the ballast box" is mounted between the divider and one other wall and is spaced from said opposite walls. 4. The apparatus of Claim 3 further comprising a facial plate mounted between said divider and said one wall and between said opposite walls and switch means mounted on the divider, a power source mounted on the box and connected to the switch means, and the switch means connected to the ballast box for selectively connecting and disconnecting the power source and the ballast box. .5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein the divider extends between one edge of the translucent diffuser viewing surface and the base and wherein the film holder comprises a recess extending toward the base and positioned between the facial plate and the translucent diffuser viewing surface, a mounting, means mounted in the recess and a pivoted means pivotally connected to the mounting means and extending outward therefrom and over an adjacent surface portion of the translucent diffuser viewing surface and means urging the pivoted means toward the surface portion. -I * ?' 6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the neon tubing is positioned close to the base and close to the translucent diffuser and wherein the tubing comprises a single tube in a serpentine arrangement of closely spaced parallel portions connected by U-shaped portions and wherein the tube begins and ends adjacent the ballast box. 7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the film holder comprises a channel formed along the said one edge of the translucent diffuser and a rod positioned in the channel and extending generally perpendicular to the opposite side walls, and a plurality of individual holder elements mounted on the rod, the holder elements comprising facial portions at least ' partially overlying the diffuser surface and having a rearward and upward extending lip for contacting an upper portion of the di fuser surface and for holding a portion of a film between the lip and the upper portion of the diffuser surface, and each element having a rearward extending lug and an opening in the lug remote from the facial portion for mounting the lug and the element on the rod and for promoting gravitational rotation of the facial portion and the lip downward and inward about the rod in a direction tending to press the lip against the upper portion of the diffuser. 8. Illuminator apparatus comprising a base, first and second opposite side walls extending outward from the base and first and second opposite end walls extending outward from the base, ends of the end walls being connected to ends of the side walls, a planar translucent diffuser connected to the first and second opposite side walls and to at least one of the first and second end walls generally parallel to the base, a neon tube mounted between the base and the diffuser, the neon tube having plural parallel sections interconnected by alternately arranged U-shaped sections for spacing the parallel sections generally equidistantly across the base and power means mounted within the base and the walls and connected to the neon tube for illuminating the neon tube, the power means comprising a ballast mounted within the base and the side walls, a switch connected to the box and a power source connected to the switch for illuminating the neon tube with power supplied from the power source through the switch and ballast to the neon tube and for substantially uniformly illuminating the translucent diffuser with the neon tube when the neon tube is powered. - URE_A OMPI ■ ι 9. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein the walls are less than two inches in height from the base to the diffuser whereby the illuminator extends outward less than two inches from a mounting surface. 10. The apparatus of Claim 8 further comprising holder means mounted along one edge of the planar translucent diffuser for holding an object to be illuminated on the .diffuser. 11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein the holder comprise channel means extending between the first and second opposite side walls and holder means mounted adjacent the channel means- and extending over a portion of the diffuser adjacent the channel means for holding materials on the illuminator apparatus i contact with the diffuser. 12. The apparatus of Claim 11 further comprising retainer means mounted within the channel and lug means extending from the holder means into the channel and en¬ gaging the retainer means. 13. The illuminator apparatus of Claim 8 further comprising a light intensity control connected to the power means for controlling intensity of light produced by the neon tube. 14. Holder apparatus for illuminators comprising plural holder elements and means for mounting the plural holder elements along one edge of a diffuser in illuminator .apparatus and channel means behind the holder elements and means associated with the channel means and with the holder elements for holding articles with the holder elements on a diffuser of the illuminator apparatus. 15. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the retainer comprises a rod mounted in the groove generally parallel to the diffuser and wherein the mounting means comprise lugs . extending rearward from the holder elements and openings in the lugs remote from the holder elements for receiving the rod, whereby the holder elements and the lugs are rotated around the rod in the direction of the diffuser. 16. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the channel means comprises spaces mounted between individual lugs and openings in the spacers for receiving the ■ rod between individual lugs and wherein the lugs are spaced inward from outer edges of the holder elements. 17. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein the diffuser is generally vertical and wherein the channel is positioned above the diffuser and wherein the holder elements and lugs rotate downward around the rod, contacting a lower portion of the holder elements with an upper portion of the diffuser and holding material therebetween for illuminating the materials with light from the diffuser. 18. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein the retainer comprises a ridge element mounted within the channel and wherein the holding means comprise plural lugs having recesses for connecting to the ridges. 19. The apparatus of Claim 14 wherein the channel means comprise plural channels and wherein the plural channels are sloped toward the diffuser and further comprising plural roller means mounted serially within the plural channels for rolling along the sloped walls into contact with the holder means whereby materials placed on the diffuser and slid between the roller means and the holder means are retained therebetween for illuminating by light from the diffuser means. ;^ϋ EA

Inventors: HELLING JAMES, INGLES WILLIAM R, MCNAIR RHETT, HELLING, JAMES, INGLES, WILLIAM, R., MCNAIR, RHETT
Applicants: NAT RES GROUP INC, NATIONAL RESEARCH GROUP, INC.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: F21V13
IPC codes: F21V8, F21V33, F21Y105, G09F13