Abstract:
An advertising sign device comprising an abutment plate including receptacles arranged in a predetermined order each having a seat, a lamp assembly including a plurality of serially connected lamps mounted on the seats, a back plate, and a cover. Advantages, such as quick assembly and colorful scheme of lamp assembly, easy replacement of lamps, prolonged useful life, lower manufacturing cost, and safety are achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to billboards and more particularly to an advertising sign device with improved characteristics.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    The light source of a conventional billboard may be broken down into two categories. Namely, one is a fluorescent lamp and the other is a neon lamp. In general, neon lamps are widely employed since they can emit a red light (i.e., colorful so as to easily catch people&#39;s attention) when energized. However, the prior art suffered from several disadvantages. For example, neon lamps are costly to manufacture. Further, a number of associated devices such as a starter, transformer, frequency transformer, etc. are needed, which in turn increase the total cost. Furthermore, once a neon lamp has malfunctioned, the whole billboard has to be replaced. This adversely affects maintenance. Additionally, neon lamps are high frequency light sources, thus being subject to interference by electrical signal transmission. Also, such a high frequency light source is harmful to human eyes. Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved advertising sign device in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an advertising sign device comprising an abutment plate including a plurality of receptacles arranged in a predetermined sign pattern, a plurality of lamps mounted on the respective receptacles—each lamp having two outer electrodes, each electrode being interconnected with two of the adjacent lamps in back of the abutment plate—whereby a series of connected lamps, arranged in accordance with the predetermined sign pattern is formed to thereby achieve a desired lighting advertising sign pattern.  
           [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an advertising sign device comprising an abutment plate including a plurality of receptacles arranged in a predetermined sign pattern, a plurality of lamps mounted on the respective receptacles, each lamp being electrically connected to the other two adjacent lamps in a back of the abutment plate, whereby a series of connections in combination with upper and lower parallel connected lamps arranged in accordance with the predetermined sign pattern is formed and the total voltage drops of each series connected lamps is substantially equal to or greater than that of the power supply so as to obtain a safe and prolonging advertising sign device.  
           [0007]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an advertising sign device comprising an abutment plate including a plurality of receptacles arranged in a predetermined sign pattern, a lamp assembly including a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) lamps mounted on a first surface of the abutment plate, each LED lamp being electrically connected to the mating electrodes of the other two adjacent LED lamps in a second surface of the abutment plate; whereby a series of connections in combination with upper and lower parallel connected LED lamps arranged in accordance with the predetermined sign pattern is formed to thereby attain a desired light-emitting advertising sign pattern.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an advertising sign device comprising:  
           [0009]    an abutment plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said abutment plate further including a plurality of receptacles arranged in a predetermined sign pattern on the first surface, wherein each receptacle has a first aperture and a second aperture both extending to the second surface, and a seat between the first and second apertures;  
           [0010]    a lamp assembly including a plurality of lamps, each mounted on one of the receptacles on the seat thereof and each lamp having a first electrode communicating with the first aperture and a second electrode communicating with second aperture of said one receptacle, wherein the first electrode of one lamp is electrically connected to the second electrode of an adjacent lamp through the first aperture and second aperture of the respective receptacles, whereby forming a series electrical connection of the lamps so as to allow the lamps in the series to be lit as one light emitting letter or one sign or figure.  
           [0011]    According to the present invention, the first electrode extends through the first aperture to the second surface and the second electrode extends through the second aperture to the second surface of the abutment plate so that the first electrode of one lamp is physically in contact with the second electrode of an adjacent lamp for making the electrical connection.  
           [0012]    According to the present invention, the advertising sign device further comprises a plurality of conductors each having a first end and second end, wherein the first end is inserted into the first aperture of one receptacle for contacting the first electrode communicating with said first aperture and the second end is inserted into the second aperture of an adjacent receptacle for contacting the second electrode communicating with said second aperture.  
           [0013]    According to the present invention, the first end of each conductor has side projections for securing the first end to the first aperture in which said first end is inserted, and the second end of each conductor has side projections for securing the second end to the second aperture in which said second end is inserted.  
           [0014]    According to the present invention, the advertising sign device further comprises a back plate secured to the abutment plate for covering at least one part of the second surface of the abutment plate.  
           [0015]    According to the present invention, the advertising sign device further comprises a cover plate secured to the abutment plate on top of the first surface thereof for protecting the lamps while allowing the light emitting letter or sign or figure to be seen through the cover plate.  
           [0016]    According to the present invention, the conductors are placed in grooves on the second surface of the abutment plate.  
           [0017]    According to the present invention, each lamp comprises a light-emitting diode.  
           [0018]    According to the present invention, the first electrode of one lamp is electrically connected to the second electrode of an adjacent lamp through a resistor.  
           [0019]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a partial section showing a portion of abutment plate prior to the assembly of lamps;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2A where a lamp has been mounted and another lamp has not been mounted;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention where lamps have been mounted but not electrically connected together;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4 where lamps have been electrically connected together;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a partial section of a third preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention where LED lamps have been mounted but not electrically connected together;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5 where LED lamps have been electrically connected together;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another configuration of abutment plate; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8 is a front plan view of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    FIGS.  1  to  3  show an advertising sign device constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. The device comprises an abutment plate  20 , a lamp assembly  30 , a transparent cover  10  for protecting abutment plate  20  and lamp assembly  30 , and a back plate  40  being threadedly secured together. As shown in FIG. 2A, the rectangular abutment plate  20  comprises a plurality of receptacles  21  arranged in a predetermined pattern so as to show a desired advertising sign or figure. Each receptacle  21  comprises a first aperture  210 , a second aperture  210 ′, and a seat  211  sandwiched between apertures  210  and  210 ′. Lamp assembly  30  comprises a plurality of lamps  31  each having a base  311  and two outer electrodes  310 . Two adjacent lamps  31  are electrically connected together by a conductor  32  having two end contacts  33  and  33 ′. Two opposite projections  330  (or  330 ′) are formed on contact  33  (or  33 ′). In the assembly, lamps  31  are placed on seats  211 . Then, contacts  33  and  33 ′ are inserted into apertures  210  and  210 ′ respectively. With the provision of projections  330  and  330 ′, the engagement of contacts  33  and  33 ′ and apertures  210  and  210 ′ are secured. This forms a series of electrical connections of lamps  31  at the back of the abutment plate to show one light emitting letter or one sign or figure. It is also understood that the total voltage drops of the series of connected lamps  31  is equal to or greater than that of the voltage of the power supply. The advantages of the invention are quick assembly, safe usage and colorful scheme of lamp assembly  30 ; easy replacement of lamps  31 ; prolonged useful life and lamps  31  are less expensive than conventional neon lamps.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 4 and 4A show a second preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention. The conductors  32  in the first embodiment are eliminated. Hence, electrodes  510  and  510 ′ of one lamp  50  are electrically and directly connected with the corresponding electrodes  510 ′ and  510  of the other adjacent lamp  50  in the back of the abutment plate  20 , respectively (i.e., threaded connection, as shown).  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 5 and 5A show a third preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention. The lamps  50  in second embodiment are replaced by LED lamps  60 . Further, a plurality of resistor assemblies  70  are provided on the back side of abutment plate  20 . Each resistor assembly  70  is electrically connected between electrode  610  of one LED lamp  61  and electrode  610 ′ of the other adjacent LED lamp  61 . In detail, resistor assembly  70  comprises a board  72 , a resistor  701  connected to board  72 , a first hole  730  with electrode  610  of one LED lamp  61  secured therein, a first connection  73  interconnecting first hole  730  and one terminal of resistor  701 , a second hole  740  with electrode  610 ′ of the other LED lamp  61  secured therein, and a second connection  74  interconnecting second hole  740  and the other terminal of resistor  701 . With the provision of resistor assembly  70 , the excessive heat generated by LED lamps  61  may be effectively dissipated.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of advertising sign device according to the invention. An additional printed circuit board (PCB)  90  having a printed circuit on the second surface thereof is provided with LED lamps  91  mounted on the first surface thereof to show a predetermined word pattern, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (e.g., SALE, as shown) instead of the previous conductor  32  or lamp electrodes&#39; direct connection. Correspondingly, a plurality of through holes  81  are formed on abutment plate  80  with each LED lamp  91  projected from a through hole  81 . Also, PCB  90  is threadedly secured together with the abutment plate  80 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 7 and 8 show another configuration of abutment plate  20 A, wherein a plurality of arcuate grooves  27  and two parallel grooves  28  in communication with arcuate grooves  27  are formed on the back surface of abutment plate  20 A. Within the grooves  27  are a plurality of lamp electrodes  33 ,  33 ′ of the lamp assembly and a plurality of conductors  32 , which are electrically interconnected between each of electrodes  33 ,  33 ′. A plurality of interconnecting conductors  35 A- 35 D are electrically connected between each predetermined word or sign pattern. For example, conductor  35 A interconnects within the word pattern “E”, conductor  35 B between word patterns “E” and “L”, conductor  35 C between word patterns “E” and “A” and conductor  35 D between word patterns “A” and “S”. This ensures a neat and safe arrangement of lamp assembly, thus preventing a short circuit from occurring.  
         [0036]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.