Patent Publication Number: US-2012036748-A1

Title: DIY LED sign panel arrangement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sign panel arrangement, and more particularly to a DIY (Do It Yourself) LED sign panel arrangement which allows a user to design and arrange the LED lighting design and effect on the sign panel in a “do it yourself” manner to meet different purposes. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     The first type of the conventional LED sign panels is customized item which has to be ordered through a manufacture store or the like that involves high level of labor and manufacture cost. The user needs to submit an order and select a design in words or logo which is available and offered from the manufacture store. Most of the time, the availability of various designs is limited but the cost is high. 
     The second type of the convention LED sign panels is standard sign panel, such as the “OPEN” sign and the restroom sign. There is no design option available and is not possible to modify the panels to suit one&#39;s need. For examples, a flower store cannot have an open sign with flower design of its own with this type of standard panels, a bakery cannot have a sign to match her unique decoration and interior design, a stylish restaurant cannot have a restroom sign matching their unique style, and etc. 
     For small and medium size businesses, the cost of the first type may be too high while the stylish-less second type may not meet their needs. The needs of a designable sign for small and medium size businesses are ignored or there is just no simple and convenience solution available to fit their needs. 
     Also, non-commercial use of signboard is common in schools, sports club or family. The design of non-commercial signboard is even more challenging because it is difficult to find one solution which is simple and easy for most people while fitting all the needs of different individuals. A designable signboard, which is simple, easy and convenience for average people while providing a great flexibility to fit different needs, is a demand in the market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The invention is advantageous in that it provides a flashing and fashionable LED signboard which includes a LED supporting frame and a plurality of LED modules for a user to design his or her own signboard in a convenience way. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to LED signboard which includes a LED supporting frame, a plurality of LED modules or LED module blocks, and a control module for a user to design his or her own signboard with flashing control in a convenience way. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to LED signboard which includes a LED supporting frame, a plurality of LED modules or LED module blocks of different color for a user to design his or her own signboard with his or her own mix and match color in a convenience way. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to LED signboard which includes a frame connector unit for connecting two LED supporting frame such that a signboard of any size is made possible to fit the need of a user. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention becomes apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a LED sign panel, comprising: 
     a LED supporting frame comprising a plurality of module holders provided on a front side of the LED supporting frame and a wire arrangement interconnecting the module holders for electrical communications; 
     a power unit which is provided on the LED supporting frame for electrically connecting with the wire arrangement and adapted for providing power to the LED supporting frame; and 
     a plurality of LED modules which are arranged for positioning onto the front side of the LED supporting frame and electrically connect to the LED supporting frame, wherein each of the LED module comprises: 
     a casing having a front side and a bottom side opposite to the front side; 
     a LED unit having an illuminating surface extended from the front side of the casing for providing illumination to the front side of the casing; and 
     a module connector provided on the bottom side of the casing for connecting to one the module holder of the LED supporting frame to secure into position on the LED supporting frame, 
     wherein the plurality of LED modules are arranged for forming an adjustable LED module pattern on the LED supporting frame and the adjustable LED module pattern is capable of presenting a text object or a graphical object such that the plurality of LED modules is capable of providing a lighting effect for the adjustable LED module pattern. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the present invention comprises a DIY LED kits for creating a LED module pattern of a signboard, comprising: 
     a LED supporting frame comprising a plurality of module holders provided on a front side of the LED supporting frame and a wire arrangement interconnecting the module holders for electrical communications; 
     a power unit which is provided on the LED supporting frame for electrically connecting with the wire arrangement and adapted for providing power to the LED supporting frame; 
     a plurality of LED modules which are arranged for positioning onto the front side of the LED supporting frame and electrically connected to the LED supporting frame, wherein each of the LED module comprises: a casing having a front side and a bottom side opposite to the front side, a LED unit having an illuminating surface extended from the front side of the casing for providing illumination to the front side of the casing, and a module connector provided on the bottom side of the casing for connecting to one the module holder of the LED supporting frame to secure into position on the LED supporting frame; 
     a plurality of LED module blocks which are arranged for positioning onto the front side of the LED supporting frame and electrically connected to the LED supporting frame, wherein each of the LED module comprises: a casing having a front side and a bottom side opposite to the front side, a preset number of LED units, each having an illuminating surface extended from the front side of the casing for providing illumination to the front side of the casing, and a module connector provided on the bottom side of the casing for connecting to one the module holder of the LED supporting frame to secure into position on the LED supporting frame, wherein each of the LED module block has a preset block structure which is constructed as a letter object or a graphical object to form a preset block pattern; and 
     a control module electrically connected to the LED supporting frame for controlling an on/off status of each of the LED units of the LED modules and the LED module blocks which are electrically connecting to the wire arrangement such that the lighting effect of the LED module pattern which is created through the LED modules and the LED module blocks is controllable under a predetermined sequence through the control module. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is perspective view of a LED signboard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is side view of a LED signboard according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a LED module of the LED signboard of according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of a LED module of the LED signboard according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an alternative of the LED module according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative of the LED module according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A to 4E  are illustrations for different alternatives of the LED module according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5C  are illustrations of two alternative wire arrangements of the LED signboard according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is an illustration of a wire connector of the LED signboard according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of connecting two LED supporting frames through a frame connector unit of the LED module according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of connecting two LED supporting frames through an alternative embodiment of the frame connector unit of the LED module according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  of the drawings, a LED sign panel arrangement, which is constructed as a signboard, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a LED supporting frame  10 , a power unit  60 , a plurality of LED modules  30 , and a control module  50 . 
     The LED supporting frame  10  is provided as a design board for a user to create his own signboard such that the user can make use of the LED modules  30  to position onto the LED supporting frame  10  to design and create the signboard. 
     The LED supporting frame  10  has a front side  11  and a back side  12  and includes a plurality of module holders  13  provided on the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10  and a wire arrangement  14  interconnecting between the module holders  13  for electrical communications. 
     Preferably, the LED supporting frame  10  has a quadrangular construction and the module holders  13  are evenly and systematically arranged along two perpendicular axes of the LED supporting frame so as to facilitate the formation of a two-dimensional pattern on the LED supporting frame. 
     The power unit  60  is provided on the LED supporting frame  10  for electrically connecting with the wire arrangement  14  and adapted for providing power to the LED supporting frame  10 . The power unit  60  can be a power inlet for connecting to a power source or a replaceable and/or rechargeable power source positioned within the LED supporting frame  10 . Preferably, the power unit  60  is positioned at the back side  12  of the LED supporting frame  10  and is invisible from the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 . 
     The LED modules  30  are arranged for positioning onto the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10  and electrically connected to the LED supporting frame  10 . The LED modules  30  are identical in structure, each of the LED module  30  includes a casing  32 , a LED unit  31 , and a module connector  33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-B  and  3 A-B of the drawings, the casing  32  has a front side  321  and a bottom side  322  opposite to the front side  321 . The LED unit  31  has an illuminating surface  311  extended from the front side  321  of the casing  32  for providing illumination to the front side  321  of the casing  32 . The module connector  33  is provided on the bottom side  322  of the casing  32  for connecting to one of the module holder  13  of the LED supporting frame  10  to secure the LED module  30  into position on the LED supporting frame  10 . 
     Accordingly, referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B  of the drawings, the plurality of LED modules  13  are arranged for forming an adjustable LED module pattern on the LED supporting frame  10  and the adjustable LED module pattern is capable of presenting a text object or a graphical object such that the plurality of LED modules  13  are capable of providing a lighting effect for the adjustable LED module pattern. For examples, the module pattern can be a word, a symbol, a two-dimensional graphic design or a slogan. The user is free to use the signboard to design and create a LED signboard of any form or for any purposes. Accordingly, the signboard provides great flexibilities to the user and can be used for indoor decoration and advertisement, as a company name sign or an address sign, a close/open sign, a promotion sign, a logo and etc in any languages and words, for any kind of shops such as restaurants, gift shop, office, etc., or for any occasions such as concerts and sports events or any other events. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B  of the drawings, the control module  50  is electrically connected to the wire arrangement  14  of the LED supporting frame  10  for controlling an on/off status of each of the LED unit  31  when the LED unit  31  is electrically connected to the wire arrangement  14  and is powered through the power unit  60 . Therefore, the lighting effect of the adjustable LED module pattern is controllable under a predetermined sequence through the control module. In other words, the control module  50  is capable of providing flashing and flashing in a predetermined manner or sequence to the LED units  31  connected on the LED supporting frame  10 . Accordingly, the signboard of the present invention can have a specific flashing effect. 
     Preferably, the front side  321  of the casing  32  further defines an exposing surface  3211  having a color which is the same as a color of the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 . Accordingly, when the LED modules  30  which are connected to the LED supporting frame  10  are viewed together with the LED supporting frame  10 , the non-illuminating portion, which are the portion of the LED supporting frame  10  without any LED module  30  connected thereon and the exposing surface  3211  of the LED modules  30  connected thereon, is of one color and is viewed as one continuous surface, while the LED module pattern with lighting or flashing effect through the illuminating surface  311  of the LED unit  31  is prominently displayed on the one continuous surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B  of the drawings, the LED module  30  can be constructed into different structure, such as a cylindrical block as shown in  FIG. 4A  and a hexagonal block as shown in  FIG. 4B . Therefore, the user is provided with a plurality of choices to mix and match the LED modules  30  of different construction to design the signboard. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4C to 4D  of the drawings, the LED sign panel arrangement, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes a plurality of LED module blocks  301  of different construction, wherein each of the LED module blocks  301  comprises a casing  32 , a preset number of LED units  31  and a module connector  33 . The casing  32  has a front side  321  and a bottom side  322  opposite to the front side  321 . The LED unit  31  has an illuminating surface  311  extended from the front side  321  of the casing for providing illumination to the front side  321  of the casing  32 . The module connector  33  is provided on the bottom side  322  of the casing  32  for connecting to a preset number of the module holders corresponding to the preset number of the LED units  31  to secure the LED module block onto the LED supporting frame into position. 
     The LED module block  301  has a preset block structure which is constructed as a letter object or a graphical object to form a preset block pattern such that each of the LED module blocks  301  is capable of providing a lighting effect showing the block pattern on the LED supporting frame. For examples, the LED module block  301  can be constructed as a letter “I”, as shown in  FIG. 4C , a symbol representing ‘period’ as shown in  FIG. 4D , or a graphical structure as shown in  FIG. 4E . In other words, the LED module blocks  301  of different constructions are provided as some templates to ease the job of the user. 
     Similarly, the LED module block  301  is arranged for positioning onto the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  12  and electrically connected to the LED supporting frame  11 , and an on/off status of each of the LED units electrically connecting to the wire arrangement is controlled through the control unit  50  such that the lighting effect of the LED module blocks  301 , which is defined as a block pattern, is controllable under a predetermined sequence through the control module. 
     Preferably and similarly, the front side  321  of the casing  32  of the LED module block further defines an exposing surface  3211  having a color which is the same as a color of the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 . Accordingly, when the LED module blocks  30  and the LED modules  30 , which are connected to the LED supporting frame  10 , are viewed together with the LED supporting frame  10 , the non-illuminating portion, which are the portion of the LED supporting frame  10  without any LED module  30  or module block  301  connected thereon and the exposing surface  3211  of the LED modules  30  and module blocks  301  connected thereon, is of one color and is viewed as one continuous surface, while the LED module pattern and the block pattern with lighting or flashing effect through the illuminating surfaces  311  of the LED units  31  are prominently displayed on the one continuous surface. In other words, a two-layered display is formed, irregardless a height of the LED module  30  or the module block  301 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5C  of the drawings, the wire arrangement  14  comprises a plurality of connecting wires  141  interconnected electrically to the power unit  60  and to provide electrical communications for each of the module holders  13  such that each of the LED units  31  is capable of positioning on the corresponding module holder  13  and connecting to the power source through the connecting wires  141  provided on the module holder  13 . In particular, the LED unit  31  has two terminals  312  extended towards the bottom side  322  of the casing  32 , adapted for electrically connecting to the connecting wires  141  of the wire arrangement  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A  of the drawings, the connecting wires  141  are interconnected electrically behind the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 , and the LED unit  31  can be electrically connected through the interconnected connecting wires  141  when each of the two terminals  312  is in physical contact to the correct terminal at any position. Preferably, each of the two terminals  312  of one LED unit  31  is a pointed end such that the two terminals  312  can be pinned to penetrate through the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10  to connect to the wire arrangement  14  which is behind the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 . It is worth mentioning that the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10  is an intact surface which has a matching color with respect to the LED modules for forming the one continuous background for the signboard. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5B and 5C  of the drawings, the plurality of connecting wires  141  defines a connecting gap  142  for each of the module holder  13  and the wire arrangement  14  further comprises a plurality of wire connectors  40  for providing electrical connection through the connecting gap between two adjacently positioned connecting wires without providing any illumination. When one LED unit  31  is positioned on the LED supporting frame  10  through the connection between the module holder  13  and the module connector  33 , the two terminals  312  are fitted to fill the connecting gap  142  to connect to the two adjacently positioned connecting wires  141  respectively such that electrical connection is established and enabled. In other words, the circuit on the LED supporting frame can be completed through the LED modules  30  and the wire connectors  40 . In other words, when the LED unit  31  is arranged on the LED supporting frame  10  to provide the lighting effect of the LED module pattern, missing gaps of electrical connection to the power unit, which is the disconnected ends of the module holders, is completed through the wire connectors  40 . 
     It is worth mentioning that the wire connector  40  is preferably to have a color which is the same as the color of the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10 . Accordingly, when the wire connectors  40 , which are connected to the LED supporting frame  10 , are viewed together with the LED supporting frame  10 , the wire connectors  40  are viewed as one continuous surface as the LED supporting frame  10  such that the LED module pattern with lighting or flashing effect through the illuminating surface  311  of the LED unit  31  can be prominently displayed on the one continuous surface, irregardless the height discrepancies between the wire connectors  40  and the LED supporting frame  10 , or between the wire connectors  40  and the exposing surface of the casing  32  of the LED module  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5C  of the drawings, alternatively, each of the two terminals  312  of one LED unit  31  and each of the two terminals of one wire connector  40  can have a flattened end. In this case, predrilled holes on the front side  11  of the LED supporting frame  10  are provided to facilitate the connection. 
     It is worth mentioning that the construction of the two terminals of each LED unit of the LED module block is the same as that of the LED module. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  6  and  7  of the drawings, the LED sign panel arrangement further comprises a frame connector unit  20  provided on at least one side of the LED supporting frame  10  which is adapted for interconnecting two LED supporting frames to form one unit. The frame connector unit  20  comprises a first connector member  21  and a second connector member  22  which can be integrally formed on the LED supporting frame  10  or is detachably connected to the LED supporting frame  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the frame connector unit  20  is integrally formed along two connecting edges  15 ,  16  of the LED supporting frame  10 , wherein the first connector member  21  is provided on the first connecting edge  15  and the second connector member  22  is provided on the second connecting edge  16 . In particular, the frame connector unit  20  is a tongue and groove arrangement, wherein the first connector member  21  is a protruded member and the second connector  22  is an indention groove. Accordingly, the protruded member  21  of a first LED supporting frame  10 A can be sliding into the indention groove  22  of a second LED supporting frame  10 B to form one unit. It is worth mentioning that the positions of the first and second connectors can be reversed in which the protruded member  21  is positioned at the second edge  16  and the indention groove is provided at the first edge  15 . 
     Alternately, the frame connector unit  20  is a coupling arrangement  20 ′ in which the first connector  21  is a shaft member  21  and the second connector  22  is coupling hole  22 ′ provided on the edge portion of the LED supporting frame  10 . In other words, as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, the first LED supporting frame  10 A′ is connected to the second LED supporting frame  10 B′ to form one unit through insertion of the shaft member  21 ′ to the coupling hole  22 ′. It is noted that other alternative settings for the frame connector unit  20  can also be used for the present invention. 
     It is worth mentioning that in the application of the present invention, the LED supporting frames  10 , the LED modules  30 , the LED module blocks  301  and/or the wire connectors  40  will be provided in different colors so that the user is free to design his or her own signboard. In other words, the present invention also provides a LED signboard kits for creating a LED module pattern of a signboard which includes a LED supporting frame  10 , a power unit  60 , a plurality of LED modules  30 , a plurality of module blocks  301  and a control module  50 . The description of the supporting frame  10 , the power unit  60 , the LED modules  30 , the module blocks  301  and the control module  50  are the same as the description as mentioned above. The DIY LED signboard kits can offer a convenience solution to meet different needs of different personal or commercial use. The user can design his own LED module pattern and has a unique LED signboard belonging to him only. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.