Patent Publication Number: US-6341441-B1

Title: Illuminated address sign

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to illuminated signs and more particularly pertains to a new illuminated address sign for hanging an illuminated sign on either a vertical or horizontal surface. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of illuminated signs is known in the prior art. More specifically, illuminated signs heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,265; U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,901; U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,924; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,406; U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,284; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 377,809. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new illuminated address sign. The inventive device includes an apparatus for holding a light bulb and signage on a structure. The apparatus contains a base for mounting on a wall of the structure. The base has base wall, a plate defining a top wall, and two pair of opposing side walls. A plurality of bores is in the base wall. A plurality of bores in the top plate holds the light socket. A light socket holds the light bulb. The light socket is mounted in one of the bores of the plate. A wire connects the light socket to a power source. The wire enters the base through one of the bores in the base wall. The wire is operationally coupled to the light socket. A switch actuates the light bulb. A plurality of fasteners fastens the base to the structure. Each of the fasteners is placed through one of the bores in the base wall. A covering for placing over the base has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a shape adapted to fit over the base. The second portion forms a hollow enclosure. The covering is formed from translucent material. 
     In these respects, the illuminated address sign according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of hanging an illuminated sign on either a vertical or horizontal surface. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of illuminated signs now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new illuminated address sign construction wherein the same can be utilized for hanging an illuminated sign on either a vertical or horizontal surface. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new illuminated address sign apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the illuminated signs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new illuminated address sign which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art illuminated signs, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an apparatus for holding a light bulb and signage on a structure. The apparatus contains a base for mounting on a wall of the structure. The base has base wall, a plate defining a top wall, and two pair of opposing side walls. A plurality of bores is in the base wall. A plurality of bores in the top plate holds the light socket. A light socket holds the light bulb. The light socket is mounted in one of the bores of the plate. A wire connects the light socket to a power source. The wire enters the base through one of the bores in the base wall. The wire is operationally coupled to the light socket. A switch actuates the light bulb. A plurality of fasteners fastens the base to the structure. Each of the fasteners is placed through one of the bores in the base wall. A covering for placing over the base has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a shape adapted to fit over the base. The second portion forms a hollow enclosure. The covering is formed from translucent material. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new illuminated address sign apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the illuminated signs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new illuminated address sign which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art illuminated signs, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new illuminated address sign which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new illuminated address sign which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such illuminated address sign economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign for hanging an illuminated sign on either a vertical or horizontal surface. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign which includes an apparatus for holding a light bulb and signage on a structure. The apparatus contains a base for mounting on a wall of the structure. The base has base wall, a plate defining a top wall, and two pair of opposing side walls. A plurality of bores is in the base wall. A plurality of bores in the top plate holds the light socket. A light socket holds the light bulb. The light socket is mounted in one of the bores of the plate. A wire connects the light socket to a power source. The wire enters the base through one of the bores in the base wall. The wire is operationally coupled to the light socket. A switch actuates the light bulb. A plurality of fasteners fastens the base to the structure. Each of the fasteners is placed through one of the bores in the base wall. A covering for placing over the base has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a shape adapted to fit over the base. The second portion forms a hollow enclosure. The covering is formed from translucent material. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign that can be powered by conventional wiring from a dwelling or from a battery power source. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new illuminated address sign that has number indicia that can be oriented consistently with the covering of the sign. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new illuminated address sign according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the base and plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the base of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the plate of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new illuminated address sign embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the illuminated address sign  10  generally comprises an apparatus for holding a light bulb  11  and signage on a structure. 
     The apparatus has base  12  for mounting on a wall of the structure. The base  12  has base wall  14  and two pair of opposing side walls  16 . An edge portion of the side walls  16  defines a peripheral edge  18 . The base has an open side  20 . The base wall  14  has a generally rectangular shape. 
     A plurality of bores  21 - 25  are in the base wall. The base wall has five bores therein. A first  21  of the bores is in a medial portion of the base wall  14 . A second  22  through fifth  25  bores is each located generally adjacent to a corner of the base wall. 
     A bore  26  is in each of the side walls  16 . The bores  26  in the side walls are generally located in a medial portion of the side walls  16 . 
     A plurality of tabs  28  are formed from portions of the peripheral edge  18 . Each of the side walls  18  has a tab thereon. Each of the tabs  28  is formed by a portion of the peripheral edge  18  being bent toward an interior of the base  12 . Each of the tabs  28  has a bore therein. The portions of the peripheral edge  18  are in a central portion of each of the side walls  16 . Each of the tabs  28  is generally rectangular. 
     A plate  30  for holding the light bulb, when removable from the base, has four edges  32 . The plate has a plurality of bores  33 - 37  therein. A first of the bores  33  is located in a medial portion of the plate  30 . A second  34  through fifth  37  of the bores is positioned such that the bores are generally coaxial with the bores in the tabs  28  when the plate  30  is placed in the base  12 . 
     A light socket  38  for holding the light bulb  11  is mounted in the first bore  33  of the plate  30 . 
     A wire  40  connects the light socket  38  to a power source. In the first embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 5, the power source is the circuitry from the dwelling. FIG. 6 depicts a battery  42  as a power source. In the first embodiment, the wire  40  enters the base  12  through the first bore  21  in the base wall  14  and is operationally coupled to the light socket  38 . 
     A switch  44  actuates the light bulb. The switch is electrically coupled to the wire  40 . In the second embodiment, the switch  44  is preferably placed on the base adjacent to the battery  42 . 
     A plurality of fasteners  46  holds the plate  30  to the base  12  and the base  12  to the structure. Each of the fasteners  46  is placed through a second  34  through a fifth  37  bore in the plate  30  and its associated bore in the tabs  28 . Each of the fasteners  46  is placed through a second  21  through a fifth  25  bore in the base wall  14 . The fasteners  46  are preferably screws. 
     A covering  50  for placing over the base has a first portion  52  and a second portion  54 . The first portion  52  has a shape adapted to fit over the base  12  and can be made to snap onto the base  12 . The second portion  54  forms a hollow enclosure. The covering  50  is formed from translucent material. Ideally, the translucent material is plastic, glass, fiberglass, mica or plexiglass. Preferably, the second portion  54  has a generally rectangular shape. 
     Ideally, a plurality of bores  56  is in the covering  50 . Each of the bores  56  is in the first portion  52  of the covering  50 . The bores  56  in the first portion  52  of the covering  50  are positioned such that each of the bores  56  is coaxial with one of the bores  26  in the side walls  16  of the base  12  when the covering  50  is placed over the base  12 . Another bore is in the covering  50  in the second embodiment in order to facilitate usage of the switch  44 . 
     A plurality of securing means  58  secures the covering  50  to the base  12 . The securing means  58  extends through the bores  56  in the first portion  52  of the covering  50  and through the bores  26  in the side walls  16  of the base  12 . Ideally, each of the securing means  58  is a hand screw. 
     In use, the base  12  is fastened to the wall of a structure. The base  12  can be horizontal or vertical, and directed upward or downward. The plate  30 , if removable, is fastened to the base  12 . A light bulb  11  is placed in the socket  38 . The covering  50  is then placed over the base  14  and secured to the base. Number indicia  60  are then placed on the covering  50 . The number indicia  60  can be oriented in a manner suited to the way the covering  50  is mounted on the base. If the covering  50  were horizontal, the number indicia  60  would be placed horizontally. If the covering  50  were vertical, the number indicia  60  would be placed vertically on the covering. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.