Abstract:
An article of manufacture is disclosed. The article includes a face portion wherein the face portion includes address information, a housing portion and a plexiglass portion in between the face portion and the housing portion for providing an optimal contrast for displaying the address information.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of home improvement and more particularly to an address cabinet.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Conventionally, street address numbers are painted on the curb of an associated building or displayed somewhere on the front of the building. Although these numbers can be seen during daylight hours, it can sometimes be problematic for someone to see the numbers during nighttime hours.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, what is needed is a means for displaying address information the addresses the above-described shortcoming. The means should be simple, cost effective and capable of being easily adapted to existing technology.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     An article of manufacture is disclosed. The article includes a face portion wherein the face portion includes address information, a housing portion and a plexiglass portion in between the face portion and the housing portion for providing an optimal contrast for displaying the address information.  
         [0005]     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an address cabinet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a more detailed illustration of the address cabinet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a more detailed illustration of the face portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a more detailed illustration of the housing portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     The present invention relates to an address cabinet. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0011]     As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, varying embodiments of an address cabinet are disclosed. Accordingly, an address cabinet that includes address information is fabricated with a plexiglass portion that allows the address information to be illuminated in dark surroundings (e.g. at night) while simultaneously providing an optimum contrast in lighted surroundings (e.g. during daylight). Consequently, the address cabinet displays the address information in an optimum fashion in either daytime or nighttime surroundings.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an address cabinet  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the address cabinet  100  includes address information  110 . In an embodiment, the address information  110  includes numbers associated with the address of a building. In this instance, the numbers “1732” could be the numbers associated with the address of a house e.g. 1732 Prospect Avenue.  
         [0013]     Although in this particular embodiment the address information  110  includes numbers associated with the address of a building, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that any type of information could be displayed while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a more detailed illustration of the address cabinet  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the address cabinet  100  includes, a face portion  120 , a plexiglass portion  130 , and a housing portion  140 . Accordingly, the face portion  120  and the plexiglass portion  130  are placed in the housing portion  140  whereby the plexiglass portion  130  is configured to provide an optimum contrast of the information being displayed on the face portion  120 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a more detailed illustration of the face portion  120 . In an embodiment, the face portion  120  includes a faceplate  121  comprised of an aluminum material whereby the address information  110  is routed out of the aluminum material. The face portion  120  further comprises a retainer portion  122  that retains the faceplate  121  wherein the retainer portion  122  can be comprised of a durable material such as plastic. Additionally, the face portion  120  can be easily removed from the housing portion  140  for easy servicing.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a more detailed illustration of the housing portion  140 . In an embodiment, the housing portion  140  includes a housing  141 , an illuminating portion  142  and an electrical portion  144  coupled to the illuminating portion  142  for providing power to the illuminating portion  142 .  
         [0017]     In an embodiment, the housing  141  is comprised of an aluminum material. Furthermore, the illuminating portion  142  comprises a fluorescent lamp and is coupled to the housing  141  via an associated socket  143 . Finally, the electrical portion  144  comprises a low voltage transformer capable of powering the fluorescent lamp. This electrical portion  144  can be coupled to a switch (i.e. a porch light switch) in order to readily provide power to the illuminating portion  142  when an illuminated state is desired.  
         [0018]     In an embodiment, the plexiglass portion  130  is a black and white plexiglass material. The black and white plexiglass material is beneficial in that when illuminated, the black and white plexiglass material provides a white background for the address information being displayed in the face portion  120 . Furthermore, in a non-illuminated state, the black and white plexiglass material provides a black background for the address information being displayed in the face portion  120 . Accordingly, this capability allows the plexiglass portion  120  to be utilized in conjunction with the illuminating portion  142  in order to provide an optimum contrast for displaying the address information being displayed in the face portion  120 .  
         [0019]     For example, during daylight hours, a black background is desirable for optimum contrast. Therefore, the illuminating portion  142  is kept off. However, during nighttime hours, a white background is desirable for optimum contrast. Consequently, the illuminating portion  142  is turned on to provide a white background for displaying the address information being displayed in the face portion  120 .  
         [0020]     An address cabinet is disclosed. Accordingly, an address cabinet that includes address information is fabricated with a plexiglass portion that allows the address information to be illuminated in dark surroundings (e.g. at night) while simultaneously providing an optimum contrast in lighted surroundings (e.g. during daylight). Consequently, the address cabinet displays the address information in an optimum fashion in either daytime or nighttime surroundings.  
         [0021]     Without further analysis, the foregoing so fully reveals the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. Therefore, such applications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims. Although this invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention, as defined in the claims that follow.