Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sign includes a plurality of spaced cutouts that either cut out at least a portion on or near the edge of at least one alphanumeric character or symbol in the indicia or are disposed within at least one alphanumeric character or symbol in the indicia, the cutouts being disposed with gaps therebetween and configured such that the corresponding at least one alphanumeric character or symbol is more legible when viewed in bright sunlight, esp. in situations of sun blindness.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0003]     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to traffic signs. More particularly, the invention relates to traffic signs with specially shaped, cut out holes, which reduce, if not prevent sun blindness.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Highway traffic signs become almost impossible to read when the sun goes behind them, especially during sunrise and sunset. This can cause drivers who are not familiar with the area to become confused and drive unpredictably, which affects the other cars around the driver. This tends to create unsafe driving conditions and sometimes accidents especially in the areas where highway traffic signs are positioned in between the Sun and the eyes of drivers during sun set and Sun rise hours.  
         [0006]     In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved traffic sign, which reduce, if not prevents sun blindness by remaining visible when the sun is directly behind the sign, thus making it easier to read and less confusing for drivers. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which striped shaped light holes (SLH) are cut from the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH and round shaped light holes (RLH) are cut in the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which RLH are cut into the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH and RLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which RLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0014]     Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, a variety of techniques are described for providing an outdoor sign with improved legibility in bright sunlight, esp. when bright enough to cause sun blindness, of indicia printed thereupon.  
         [0016]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sign includes a plurality of spaced cutouts that either cut out a portion tracing the center of letter or around the perimeter of the letter or symbol in the indicia or are disposed within at least one alphanumeric character or symbol in the indicia, the cutouts being disposed with gaps therebetween and configured such that the corresponding at least one alphanumeric character or symbol is more legible when viewed in bright sunlight.  
         [0017]     In other embodiments of the present invention, means and Steps for making an outdoor sign with improved legibility in bright sunlight, which includes means/steps for making at least one alphanumeric character or symbol in the indicia more legible when viewed in bright sunlight. Some embodiments further include means/steps for maintaining structural integrity of the sign under intended operating conditions. Yet other embodiments further comprises means/steps for collecting more light from light from the backside and funneling the increased collected light to the front side. Some alternate embodiments of the present invention included means/steps for reducing the overall force imparted to the sign by wind under wind conditions.  
         [0018]     Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.  
         [0020]     Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.  
         [0021]     Existing traffic signs block sunlight coming from behind, which often makes the sign unreadable when looked at from the front. This often causes the problem of sun blindness for a driver when the sun is positioned behind the sign. When this happens, the sign is unreadable until the driver comes to different angle against sunlight. One aspect of the present invention is to provide a traffic sign, which reduces, if not prevents, sun blindness, creating safer driving conditions because drivers will not be confused by unreadable signs.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which striped shaped light holes (SLH) are cut from the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a letter foundation  10  is painted in white reflective paint onto the main body of a traffic sign, which is usually painted green. However, those skilled in the art in light of the present teachings will recognize a multiplicity of alternative methods for lettering the sign used in combination with embodiments of the previous invention, such as, but not limited to, retroreflective material, transparent acrylic, self-illuminated, electronic diode illuminated and/or other lettering techniques that are used in traffic signs to improve legibility against sun blindness. In the present invention, striped shaped light holes (SLH)  12  are cut out of the center of letter foundation  10  following the shape of letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are intentionally left between SLH  12  to maintain the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the sign. SLH  12  allows sunlight to come through the sign in the shape of letter foundation  10 . Drivers can now read the sign even when the sun is directly behind it. In some embodiments, reflective indicia may be placed in a line along SLH  12  or on both sides of SLH  12  as an addition on the white reflective paint of the main body of letter, thereby making the sign more visible at night when a car&#39;s headlights shine on it. The present embodiment of the invention requires no power or ongoing maintenance. Also, SLH  12  eases the wind force on the sign by allowing some air to pass through SLH  12  instead of being completely blocked by the sign.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH and round shaped light holes (RLH) are cut in the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, SLH  12  and round shaped light holes (RLH)  14  are cut into the center of letter foundation  10  in the shape of letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are left between SLH  12  and RLH  14  to maintain the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the sign.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which RLH are cut into the center of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, RHL  14  are cut into the center of letter foundation  10  following the shape of letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are left between RHL  14  in order to maintain the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the sign.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, SLH  13  are cut along the outside edge of letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are intentionally left between SLH  13  in order to maintain the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the sign and to keep letter foundation  10  attached to the main body of the sign. SLH  13  allow light to come through the sign in the shape of letter foundation  10 , which makes the sign more readable to a driver when the sun is directly behind the sign. In the present embodiment, letter foundation  10  is painted onto the main body of the sign with white reflective paint and may also have reflective indicia in the center of letter foundation  10  making it more visible to drivers at night when the cars&#39; headlights shine on it.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which SLH and RLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, SLH  13  and RLH  15  are cut out of the sign around the outside of letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are left between SLH  13  and RLH  15  in order to maintain the strength, rigidity, and structural integrity of the sign, and so letter foundation  10  remains attached to the main body of the sign.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary traffic sign letter in which RLH are cut around the perimeter of the letter, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, RLH  15  are cut out of the sign outlining letter foundation  10 . Enforcement connections  11  are left between RLH  15  to maintain the strength and structural integrity of the sign and to keep letter foundation  10  attached to the main body of the sign.  
         [0028]     In some embodiments of the present invention, the light holes can be cut wider in the back of the sign and narrower in the front in order to collect more light by way of a funneling-like effect.  
         [0029]     In alternate embodiments, instead of cutting holes in or around the letters of the sign, the entire letter can be cut clean out of the sign.  
         [0030]     In some embodiments, the light holes can be filled with a transparent colored material, such as, but not limited to glass, to create a stained glass effect, which has the benefit of creating distinguishing colors without requiring powered lighting sources as required in conventional approaches.  
         [0031]     Those skilled in the art, in light of the teachings of the present invention, will readily recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable cutout patterns to form or outline letters or symbols used to communicate information in outdoor signage. For example, without limitation, any combination of the patterns shown may be mixed or matched in some embodiments and any suitable cutout shape or orientation may be implemented depending upon the needs of the particular application.  
         [0032]     Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing a sign reducing sun blindness according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of example, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. Although the examples described above were described in the context of highway traffic signs, it is contemplated the teachings of the present invention may also be readily adaptable to any kind of out door signage, which are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.