Patent Publication Number: US-2005132625-A1

Title: Sign housing and assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/532,216, entitled “SIGN ASSEMBLY” filed Dec. 23, 2003, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/628,471, entitled “SIGN ASSEMBLY” filed Nov. 16, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention is directed to a sign housing and, more particularly, to a sign housing for a mock neon sign and assembly thereof.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      For most businesses operating in a storefront, whether it be on a street, in a shopping mall or otherwise, signage is an important business tool. Every such business requires signage suitable to identify the business and ideally create a favorable and inviting impression. For many businesses a neon sign is the signage of choice. Unfortunately, neon signs are expensive to purchase, are prone to breakage during shipping and in use and are costly to repair. Moreover, when repairs are required a business must often do without adequate or desirable signage during a possibly lengthy repair process.  
      To date, mock neon signs have been fabricated using metal housings having facings permanently mounted thereto, typically by adhesive, making service, such as light source replacement, difficult or impossible. When such mock neon signs are damaged, they invariably need to be discarded and replaced.  
      Accordingly, there is a need for an attractive, cost-effective alternative to neon signage that permits easy service and replacement of parts.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A sign housing is disclosed adapted to receive a mock neon sign assembly. In one embodiment, the sign housing includes a plurality of sides operatively coupled to one another and to a rear panel in order to define an interior recess.  
      Preferably, the housing in accordance with the present invention is formed from a moldable polymer, such as by way of vacuum forming techniques. In one embodiment, the sign housing comprises two pieces including a first piece comprising the sides and the rear panel, and a second (back) piece shaped to meet the peripheral edges of the sides of the first piece. After assembly of the two pieces the assembly is preferably die cut to form a smooth edge at the junction of the two pieces.  
      The sign housing preferably includes a plurality of stand-offs disposed on the rear panel and at least one aperture disposed through the rear panel.  
      The housing is preferably employed to provide structural support to a mock neon sign, the mock neon sign including a rear board having a light source, a middle panel overlying the rear board and including one or more shaped areas having configurations that complement the arrangement of the light source, and a front panel overlying the middle panel including a corresponding shaped area that permits light from the aforementioned light source to pass therethrough.  
      In an alternate embodiment an assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing including a plurality of slots and primary and secondary stand-offs, or bosses; a middle panel including a plurality of tabs and posts; a rear board including openings positioned to permit passage of the middle panel posts therethrough when positioning the middle panel over the rear board. In a preferred embodiment at least one of said posts includes a recess adapted to receive an end of a primary stand-off, eliminating or minimizing “play” between respective ends of a stand-off and post. Alternatively, a recess is formed in at least one stand-off to receive an end of a post. In a most preferred embodiment a rear panel of said housing includes and opening formed therein to accommodate passage of wiring or a wiring module for connection to a power supply. A power supply for an assembly in accordance with the invention may include a battery which can be mounted in various locations as will be recognized by one skilled in the art.  
      A method of assembling a mock neon sign in accordance with the present invention is also disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      For the purposes of discussion, there are forms shown in the drawing for the purposes of discussion, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sign housing in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the sign housing of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the sign housing of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIGS. 4-7  are side views of the sign housing of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating how a mock neon sign may be disposed within the sign housing in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a sign housing in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a panel device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a feature of a panel device in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rear board in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      In the following description, for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , a sign housing  100  is illustrated as being of a generally rectangular construction, although it is understood that the sign housing  100  may take on any desired shape in order to receive a mock neon sign assembly. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the sign housing  100  includes a plurality of sides  102  that are operatively coupled to one another and to a rear panel  104  in order to define an interior recess  106  of the sign housing  100 .  
      Preferably, the housing  100  is formed from a moldable polymer, such as by way of vacuum forming techniques. More preferably, the sign housing  100  includes a first, preferably thermoformed piece  103  comprising the sides  102  and the rear panel  104 , and a second (back) piece  105  that is shaped to meet the peripheral edges of the sides  102  as best seen in  FIG. 3 . Back piece  105  is preferably a unitary sheet as shown in  FIG. 3 ; however back piece  105  may comprise a frame type construction, but it is desired that the edges of back piece  105  are coextensive with the edges of sides  102 . The back piece  105  is preferably solvent bonded to the first piece  103  at a flange of each. Back piece  105  may be bonded to the first piece  103  by sonic or electronic welding. The assembled first and back pieces  103 ,  105  are preferably die cut to form a smooth edge.  
      Alternatively, as would be recognized by one of skill in the art, back piece  105  and first piece  103  may be fabricated such that they can be mechanically connected, such as by snap fitting, such as but not limited to by forming a rim on the periphery of one piece and a complementary groove on the periphery of the other piece.  
      The sign housing  100  preferably includes a plurality of stand-offs  108  disposed on the rear panel  104 . The stand-offs  108  are illustrated as having a generally circular construction, although as will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the stand-offs  108  may take on any suitable shape. In addition, one or more of the stand-offs  108  may include a depression  110  in order to facilitate operative assembly features in connection with the mock neon sign, which will be discussed later in this description.  
      The sign housing  100  also preferably includes at least one aperture  112  disposed through the rear panel  104  and, if present, back piece  105 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the aperture  112  provides a passageway from the recess area  106 , through the rear panel  104 , to a back area of the sign housing  100 . The utility of the aperture  112  will be discussed hereinbelow. The aperture  112  may be formed during the die cut process described above or may be drilled, punched or otherwise formed at any time.  
      With reference to  FIG. 8 , the sign housing  100  is preferably employed to provide structural support to a mock neon sign. The mock neon sign includes three basic elements, namely: a rear board  120 , a middle panel  122 , and a front panel  124 . The rear board  120  includes a light source such as but not limited to a plurality of lamps  126  that are disposed in a desirable configuration, such as an “O”. It is noted that the lamps  126  may be arranged to achieve any desirable configuration. The lamps  126  receive electric power from a suitable source, such as 120 volt, 60 Hz wall power or a battery. In accordance with the known techniques, the lamps  126  may be AC or DC lamps and, therefore, suitable power conditioning circuitry may be employed to provide the requisite power characteristics to the lamps  126 . Assuming, however, that the source is wall power, the mock neon sign preferably includes a cord  128  that extends from the rear board  120 . Preferably, cord  128  is fed through opening  112  as shown. In another embodiment electric power is supplied via a battery (not shown) a space for which may be provided in any suitable location on or in the assembly.  
      The middle panel  122  overlies the rear board  120  and includes one or more shaped areas  130  having configurations that complement the arrangements of the lamps  126 . Here, one shaped area  130  is illustrated, which is in a generally circular configuration to match the arrangement of the lamps  126 . Preferably, the shaped area  130  includes a generally translucent (or clear) polymer material that is shaped to mechanically receive the lamps  126  while also permitting light from the lamps  126  to pass therethrough. In one embodiment the panel  122  is vacuum-formed plastic fabricated to have the appearance of neon light tubing even when not illuminated. Most preferably, all or part of the middle panel  122  is fabricated of a specially formulated polymer. An example of such a polymer is commercially available from Primex Plastics Corp. of Garfield, N.J.  
      The front panel  124  overlies the middle panel  122  and includes a corresponding shaped area  132  that permits the light from the lamps  126  to pass therethrough. Remaining portions of the front panel  124  are preferably opaque in order to mask light. Suitable materials for front panel  124  include but are not limited to foam, paper, cardboard, metal, laminates, plastic, blown PVC and the like suitable for masking a desired degree of light. Preferably front panel  124  is fabricated of foam rubber. Front panel  124  may be formed of multiple pieces to accommodate particular signage.  
      The assembly of the rear board  120 , the middle panel  122  and the front panel  124  is preferably coupled to the sign housing  100  by way of the stand-offs  108 . In particular, some adhesive material  140  may be used to connect the rear board  120  to the rear panel  104  of the sign housing  100 . In addition, the cord  128  may pass through the aperture  112  such that it may readily be connected to a source of power.  
      Now referring to  FIGS. 9-12  in an alternate embodiment an assembly in accordance with the present invention is disclosed. Housing  100  includes slots  141  and primary stand-offs  109  and secondary stand-offs  108 . Primary stand-offs  109  extend further outward from housing  100  than secondary stand-offs  108 . Middle panel  122  further includes tabs  142  and posts  144 , and rear board  120  includes openings  148  formed therein. Tabs  142  of middle panel  122  are adapted to engage slots  141  of housing  100 . Posts  144  preferably extend from a rear face of middle panel  122  to contact complementary primary stand-offs  109  of housing  100 . Openings  148  of rear board  120  are positioned to permit passage of posts  144  therethrough when positioning the middle panel  122  over rear board  120 . Now referring to  FIG. 11  in one embodiment post  144  include a recess  146  adapted to receive an end of primary stand-off  109 . In this embodiment “play” between respective ends of stand-off  109  and post  144  is minimized or eliminated. Alternatively, a recess is formed in stand-off  109  to receive an end of post  144 . Preferably post  144  is sized to fit snugly in opening  148 . Rear board may include a wiring module  150  adapted to fit in opening  112  of housing  100 .  
      A method of assembly according to at least one aspect of the present invention comprises applying adhesive to at least some of stand-offs  109  and  108  of housing  100 , inserting rear board  120  over stand-offs  109  and  108 , stand-offs  108  supporting a back side of rear board  120  and stand-offs  109  aligning with openings  148  of rear board  120 , inserting middle panel  122  over rear board  120 , aligning tabs  142  of the middle panel  122  with the slots  141  of housing  100  and the posts  144  with primary stand-offs  109 , and inserting a front panel  124  over said middle panel.  
      Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principals and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.