Abstract:
Custom LED light panel displays ( 20, 20   a,    20   b ) are provided, equipped with transparent media covers ( 22 ), replaceable, image-bearing media sheets ( 24 ), and support and illumination assemblies ( 26 ) having backing panels ( 38 ) supporting the sheets ( 24 ). The sheets ( 24 ) are located between the covers ( 22 ) and the backing panels ( 38 ), and can be readily replaced without disassembly of the displays ( 20, 20   a,    20   b ). The displays ( 20, 20   a,    20   b ) are illuminated by means of peripheral LED lights ( 86 ) disposed about central panel sections ( 50 ) forming a part of the backing panels ( 38 ). The LED-emitted light may be4 scattered or changed in color to achieve different illumination patterns.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is broadly concerned with aesthetically pleasing light-emitting diode (LED) illuminated displays, which can be used to good effect for advertisement and promotional purposes. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such displays, and methods of display illumination, wherein displayed images may be readily and rapidly changed, with a variety of different lighting motifs, both in terms of the intensity of illumination, and the color and placement of the illumination. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Sellers of consumer products constantly seek new ways to display images of their wares which are eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing. For example, it has been known in the past to provide illuminated panel displays using LED strip lights. While these units have had significant success, they are deficient in many important respects. For example, with these prior units, it is very difficult to change the displayed images therein, often requiring complete disassembly of the units. Moreover, these prior displays generally have only a single type and color of generalized illumination, and cannot provide illumination patterns of varying colors and intensities. 
         [0005]    These limitations significantly decrease the desirability of standard LED displays. For example, sellers of cellular telephones often desire to display the latest telephone designs for a short period of time while the new design is in vogue, and thereafter would like to display another, perhaps newer telephone design. Similarly, automobile dealerships often want to display images of a given model for a period of time, followed by display of a different model. With conventional displays, it is necessary either to completely disassemble the display, or to replace it altogether, when a new sales campaign is launched with a different telephone or automobile model. As a practical matter, therefore, the prior displays lack the ability to be easily modified in terms of the images displayed, or the illumination pattern associated with given images. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides greatly improved LED displays, which can be altered in a matter of seconds without the necessity of disassembly, both in terms of the image displayed and the illumination thereof. 
         [0007]    In one aspect of the invention, a display comprises a backing panel presenting opposed front and rear faces and a thickness between the opposed faces, with the backing panel having a central panel section oriented to receive a replaceable sheet of light-transmitting media bearing an image, so that the media sheet is located proximal to the front face of the central panel section. The overall display further includes a light-transmitting cover located over the central panel section and media, as well as an illumination assembly operable illuminate the media and image in order to permit viewing of the image through the cover. The display also has structure supporting the cover in covering relationship over the media, including a quick-release device permitting rapid manual shifting of the cover to expose the media and to permit replacement thereof with new media bearing another image. The quick-release structure can take a variety of forms, magnetic components, Velcro® components, quarter-turn connector components, snap components, hinge/latch components, and combinations thereof. 
         [0008]    In preferred forms, the backing panel is formed of substantially white and opaque synthetic resin material, and one face of the backing panel is laser-etched to facilitate even “white light” illumination thereof, and especially the central panel section. The LED lights are usually located adjacent the backing panel and oriented to transmit light through the thickness thereof in order to illuminate the central panel section and the media. 
         [0009]    In many cases, light-scattering structure is provided in order to alter the illumination pattern of the emitted LED light. Such light-scattering structure may be integral with the components of the display, or separable therefrom. The light scattering structure is typically placed proximal to the LED lights for scattering of the emitted light before passage through the other light-transmitting display components. As used herein, light “scattering” refers to any phenomena occurring when light impinges upon a non-smooth surface, including but not limited to the disruption, distortion, reflection (both specular and diffuse), diffusion, deflection, and refraction. In certain embodiments, the light-scattering structure may be prism-like (i.e., a medium that distorts, slants, or colors incident light), and present a pair of converging faces. Light-scattering structures may be used to generate even illumination of the backing panel, or to create illumination having different intensities at different locations on the display. 
         [0010]    Use can also be made of replaceable coloration elements located in the path of the emitted LED light, either directly from the LEDs or reflected LED light. These elements may be formed of colored material or be formed of clear material having colored outer surfaces. A given coloration element may also have different colors along the length thereof. In this fashion, the illumination pattern may have different colors at different display locations. 
         [0011]    The invention also provides novel methods of illuminating a display including a backing panel for an image and having front and rear faces and a thickness between the faces. These methods comprise the steps of directing light emitted by a plurality of LED lights first through a replaceable coloration element in order to change the color of the light, and thereafter directing the light through at least a portion of the backing panel. Such emitted light may be scattered prior to or after passage of the light through the coloration element. In this manner, varying color displays can be easily provided. If differential illumination is desired, greater amounts of the LED-emitted light may be directed or focused toward one portion of the backing panel, while other portions thereof receive less or no illumination. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display in accordance with the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of the display of  FIG. 1 , illustrating certain components thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a complete exploded perspective view of the display of  FIG. 1 , illustrating all of the components thereof; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of the backing panel forming a part of the display, illustrated with side marginal LED lights and the rear panel of the display secured to the backing panel; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the upper left corner of the display illustrated in  FIG. 1 , depicting the respective display components and their relationship to each other; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the  FIG. 1  display, illustrating the preferred wall stand-off mounting structure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the rear face of the media cover forming a part of the display of  FIG. 1 , and illustrating the corner-magnets forming a part of the quick-connect structure of the display; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective fragmentary sectional view of a side margin of the  FIG. 1  display; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view with parts broken away of a side margin of the  FIG. 1  display, illustrating the LED lights, the inboard and outboard light-scattering structures, and a color bar, all forming a part of the display; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view similar to that of  FIG. 9 , but illustrating another embodiment not having the outboard light-scattering structures; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10A  is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view illustrating one preferred design of the light-scattering structures of the displays of  FIGS. 1-10 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary front view illustrating another display design having a differently configured middle backing panel having an inboard horizontal edge presenting differently configured prism-like elements along the length thereof; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is an elevational view of another display design having a middle backing panel with different outwardly extending decorations, as compared with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a color photograph of the  FIG. 12  display, where no coloration bars are employed; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a color photograph of a side perspective view of the  FIG. 13  display; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a color photograph of a side perspective view of the  FIG. 13  display, illustrating a user opening the media cover to allow access to the replaceable media sheet and the horizontal and vertical slots designed to receive coloration bars; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a color photograph similar to that of  FIG. 15 , but depicting insertion of multi-colored coloration elements in the horizontal and vertical slots; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a color photograph similar to that of  FIG. 16 , showing the multi-colored coloration elements situated within the slots and prior to closure of the media cover; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a color photograph of the display of  FIG. 17 , depicting the differential coloring afforded by the use of the multi-colored coloration elements; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a color photograph of a side perspective view of the  FIG. 18  display, illustrating the differential color effect along the side margin of the display; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a color photograph similar to that of  FIG. 16 , but depicting the insertion of amber-colored coloration elements into the display slots, in lieu of the multi-colored coloration elements; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is a color photograph similar to that of  FIG. 17 , illustrating closure of the media cover with the installed amber-colored coloration elements; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a color photograph similar to that of  FIGS. 13 and 18 , and illustrating the display with the amber-colored coloration elements; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is a color photograph of a side perspective view of the display of  FIG. 22  illustrating the amber color effect along the side margin of the display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Embodiment of  FIGS. 1-9   
         [0037]    Turning now to the drawings, a display  20  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and broadly includes a media cover  22 , a replaceable, image-bearing media sheet  24 , and a support and illumination assembly  26 . The display  20  may be wall- or easel-mounted as desired, and is typically used in advertising promotions, i.e., the media sheet  24  has an image such as a photograph and/or text, which is illuminated and displayed in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Moreover, the design of the display  20  makes it very easy to replace a given media sheet  24  with a new replacement media sheet. 
         [0038]    The media cover  22  includes a sheet  28  of substantially transparent glass or synthetic resin material, with a surrounding frame  30 . In the specific illustrated embodiment, the rear face of the frame  30  is equipped with corner-mounted magnets  32  ( FIG. 7 ); the purpose of these magnets will be made clear hereinafter. 
         [0039]    The media sheet  24  is formed of a thin, light-transmitting sheet  34  of synthetic resin, e.g., acetate, which has been imprinted with or otherwise bears an image  36 , in this example a photograph of a cellular telephone and related advertising information. Of course, any desired image may be displayed on the media sheet  24 . 
         [0040]    The support and illumination assembly  26  broadly includes a middle backing panel  38 , front and rear tapes  40  and  42 , and front and rear panels  44  and  46 . The components of the assembly  26  are secured together in a face-to-face manner with appropriate couplers, in this instance the standoff screw assemblies  48 . 
         [0041]    The backing panel  38  is preferably formed of white opaque acrylic material having a thickness of from about 1/16-¼ inch (more preferably about ⅛ inch) and presents a substantially rectangular central panel section  50  and an interconnected peripheral surrounding margin  52 . The panel additionally has a pair of lower, rectangular wireway slots  54 , and a pair of vertically extending slots  56  adjacent the side margins of central panel section  50 , such that the slots  56  are located between the central panel section  50  and margin  52 . The margin  52  has four slots, namely side marginal vertical slots  58  outboard of the slots  56 , and transverse slots  60  respectively located above and below the central panel section  50 . The margin  52  further includes four corner mounting holes  62 , and four metallic inserts  64 , as shown. 
         [0042]    The rear face of central panel section  50  is laser-etched to present a series of ablated circular zones  66 . These zones cover the entirety of the rear face, and are etched so that the zones in the central region of the rear face are slightly larger than the zones at the periphery of the rear face. In other words, the zone areas are the smallest at the edges of the rear face, and gradually increase in an even gradient towards the largest zone areas at the center. The purpose of the ablated zones  66  is to facilitate full and even illumination of the central panel section  50 , as will be described below. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-9 , it will also be seen that the slots  56  are defined between the outermost vertical edge  68  of central panel section  50 , and the innermost vertical edge  70  of margin  52 . As shown, each of the edges  68  and  70  is formed to present a series of upright, abutting, regular prism-like elements  72   a  and  72   b  along the entire lengths thereof. These elements  72   a,    72   b  are identical ( FIG. 10A ) and each present a pair of converging faces  74 ,  76 , which terminate at an apex  78 . The included angle between the faces  74 ,  76  in the depicted embodiment is 60°, and the faces have a length of about 0.05 inches in the planes thereof. It should be understood, however, that these dimensions and geometries may change, depending upon the lighting effect desired in the display  20 . As used herein, “prism-like” elements or structures refers to any non-smooth surface(s) or configuration(s) which serve to scatter (as defined above) incident light. 
         [0044]    The rear tape  42  is rectangular in shape and is in the form of double-faced polyurethane foam tape, which is adhered to the rear face of backing panel  38  and the front face of rear panel  46 , so that the backing panel and rear panel are unitized. It will be observed that the tape  42  covers the open backs of the slots  56 ,  58 , and  60 . As illustrated, the rear panel  46  has an opening  80  for an electrical connector, and a wireway opening  82  which communicates with the wireway slots  54 . 
         [0045]    A pair of elongated LED light strips  84  are respectively located in the vertical slots  56  and extend along the length thereof. The strips  84  are maintained in place by virtue of the adhesive on the tape  42 . The strips  84  include a plurality of spaced apart LED lights  86 , which are designed to direct emitted light through the prism-like elements  72   a  and the thickness of central panel section  50  so as to illuminate the latter. The elements  72   a,  together with the described laser-etching on the rear face of central panel section  50 , serves to even out this LED-emitted light to create a substantially even illumination throughout the area of the section  50 . Such LED light strips are well known, and may be obtained from EnvironmentalLights.com. The depicted light strips are Daylight White 3014 side view LED Strips having a color temperature of 6,500° K, and are spaced 0.14 inches (10.4 mm) apart, product no. dirfEV3014-96-reel, obtained from the above source. 
         [0046]    The slots  58  and  60  may be equipped with elongated replaceable coloration bars or elements  88 , in the form of rod-like members, preferably rectangular in cross-section, and formed of light-transmitting material. The elements  88  may be formed of a colored synthetic resin material (e.g., red or blue), or may be clear with an application of external tape or the like having the desired color. In the illustrated embodiment, only two elements  88  are employed, located within the vertical slots  56 . In other instances, all four of the slots  58 ,  60 , may be equipped with elements  88 , or only the transverse slots  60 . 
         [0047]    The front tape  40  covers the forward ends of the slots  56 , as best seen in  FIGS. 8-9 , and has four marginal slots  90 , which register with the vertical and transverse slots  58 ,  60  designed to receive coloration bars. The front panel  44  is formed of any suitable synthetic resin material, and has four corner apertures  92  to receive the assemblies  48 . 
         [0048]    The support and illumination assembly  26  is constructed by first adhering the rear face of tape  42  to the front face of rear panel  46 , followed by adhering the front face of the tape  42  to the rear face of backing panel  38 . Thereupon, the desired LED strips  84  are located within the upright slots  56  and are adhered to the tape  42 , and paper covers  58   a  and  60   a  ( FIG. 5 ) are applied to the bottom surfaces of the open slots  58 ,  60  in order to cover the adhesive along the length of the slots. The desired coloration elements  88  are then positioned within the slots  58  and/or  60 . The electrical leads of the strips  84  are then threaded through the display and are coupled with a power cord (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0049]    Next, the front tape  40  is applied to the front face of backing panel  38  to cover the installed strips  84 , while permitting access to the color bars  88  through the slots  90 . Appropriate wiring for the stripe  84  is then installed through the wireways  54  and slots  80 ,  82 , and rear panel  46  is adhered to the rear tape  42 . Finally, the front panel  44  is installed with the standoff screw assemblies  48 , to thereby sandwich the components of the assembly  26  together and to provide a convenient method of mounting the entire display  20  to a vertical wall. 
         [0050]    Once the assembly  26  is constructed, it is a simple matter to apply the media sheet  24  over the central panel section  50  of backing panel  38 , and to install the media cover  22 . The latter is accomplished by simply placing the rear magnets  32  thereof in opposition to the metallic inserts  64  of backing panel  38  so as to magnetically adhere the media cover in place. It will be appreciated that any particular media sheet  24  can be readily removed and replaced, by merely detaching the media cover  22 , removing the previously displayed sheet  24 , and inserting new sheet in place thereof. The media cover  22  can then be reinstalled, as described. In addition, if a new design color is desired, the coloration elements  88  can also be replaced or supplemented. 
         [0051]    Operation 
         [0052]    When a desired media sheet  24  is placed within the display  20  as described, the LED lights  86  of the strips  84  are illuminated by an appropriate electrical power-on. This serves to generate visible light which is directed inwardly from the lights  86  through the inboard light-scattering structures  72   a  and thence through the thickness of the central panel section  50 . This illumination, together with the effect of the laser-etching on the rear face of central panel section  50 , serves to create an essentially uniform “white light” which illuminates the entirety of the section  50 . Inasmuch as the media sheet  24  is formed of light-transmitting material, this illumination serves to dramatically highlight the image  36 . 
         [0053]    Additionally, a portion of the light emitted from the lights  86  is reflected from the structures  72   a  and serves to illuminate the peripheral margin  52 . That is, the reflected light first passes through the outboard structures  72   b  and then through the thickness of the margin. In the event that coloration elements  88  are situated within the slots  58 , the margin may be illuminated in the corresponding color(s), to further accentuate the image  36  on media sheet  24 . The provision of inboard and outboard structures  72   a  and  72   b  creates substantially even illumination both of the central section  50  and margin  52 , albeit in different colors as dictated by the colors of the elements  88 . 
         [0054]    Embodiment of  FIGS. 10 and 10A   
         [0055]    The embodiment of  FIG. 10  is exactly the same of that of  FIGS. 1-9 , save for the fact that the outboard structures  72   b  are eliminated, and thus the inner surface of the margin  52  is smooth and does not serve to scatter light, as described. Consequently, the illumination of margin  52  is not entirely even, which may be desirable in particular contexts of advertising or promotion. 
         [0056]    Embodiment of  FIG. 11   
         [0057]      FIG. 11  illustrates another display  20   a  in accordance with the invention having the same components as previously described, save for a differently configured middle backing panel  38   a  having a decorative, stylized outer margin  52   a,  which can itself have differently colored elements. This embodiment further differs from that of  FIGS. 1-9  in the provision of prism-like elements along the outer edge of the upper, horizontally extending slot  56 . Specifically, the prism-like elements include endmost sections and a central section  72   b,  which are configured in the manner of the elements  72   a,  but with intermediate sections  72   c,  which have differently designed shapes and orientations. This allows a different illumination pattern through the margin  52   a,  at the discretion of the user. By providing the elements  72   c,  light can be cast in different directions and intensities, dependent upon the geometry of the elements  72   c.    
         [0058]    Embodiment of  FIGS. 12-23   
         [0059]      FIG. 12  is an elevational view of another display  20   b  having the same overall components as the display  20 . However, display  20   b  is provided with a backing panel having a different surrounding margin  52   c  presenting a series of circular corner elements  94  and peripheral “bubbles”  96 . In order to best illustrate the display  20   b  and the utility of the present invention, attention is drawn to the photographic  FIGS. 13-23 . 
         [0060]    First,  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the display  20   b  without the use of any coloration elements  88  within the slots  58  and  60 . Thus, it will be observed that the display casts an essentially white light strip  98  along the bottom of the display, and also along the side margin thereof ( FIG. 14 ). 
         [0061]    If it is desired to change the visual effect of the display  20   b,  it is only necessary to open the media cover  22  ( FIG. 15 ) to expose the open slots  58  and  60  and to insert multi-colored coloration elements  88   a  into those slots ( FIG. 16 ). In this illustration, multi-colored elements  88   a  are employed having different colors along the lengths thereof. As a consequence, the display  20   b  casts a multi-colored light strip  100  along the bottom of the display, and also along the side margin thereof ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ). 
         [0062]    A similar modification can be effected by again opening the media cover  22 , removing the light bars  88   a,  and substituting therefor amber-colored light bars  88   b  ( FIG. 20 ), and then closing the cover  22 , so that amber-colored light strips  102  are generated by the display ( FIGS. 21-23 ). 
         [0063]    It should be understood that the depicted embodiments are exemplary only, and many details of construction can be altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while magnetic quick-connect devices have been employed in these embodiments, any number of quick-connect devices may be used in lieu thereof, e.g., Velcro® components, quarter-turn connectors (such as those commercialized by Southco, Inc. under the designation “DZUS®”), snap components, hinge/latch components, or combinations thereof. The goal is to entrap the media sheet  24  between the central panel section  50  and the media cover  22 , while permitting easy manual access for changeover of the sheet  24 , without the need for unthreading nuts or the like, or extensive disassembly of the displays. 
         [0064]    Very importantly, the types and locations of the light-scattering structures can be varied to give an almost infinite number of display effects. These structures can be prism-like, as described, but these structures are in no way limited to planar prisms. Various arcuate surfaces may be used in lieu of the prism-like elements and the locations thereof may be strategically selected in order to concentrate light at desired areas, especially around the outer margins of the displays. In like manner, any type of coloration element may be used, and this is not limited to the quadrate bars in the exemplary embodiments. These elements may be curvilinear or angular in shape, and may have various cross-sections, e.g., circular, square, rectangular, oval, and the like. 
         [0065]    The materials used in fabricating the various components of the displays can be changed as desired by the designer or to meet the dictates of a particular desired display. Generally, synthetic resin components are used for ease of manufacture and low costs, but metallic components may also be used. 
         [0066]    The displays of the invention may be mounted on a vertical wall surface, as through the use of the described standoff assemblies. Alternately, the displays may be mounted on an easel or at any other desired location.