Patent Publication Number: US-6658774-B1

Title: Illuminated identification system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to address signs and more specifically it relates to an illuminated identification system for providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Address signs have been in use for years. An address sign displays the street address of a building structure and are typically viewable from a significant distance. Address signs may be comprised of raised or engraved numbers/letters attached to the building structure. Address signs are typically attached to the front of a building structure thereby identifying the building for visitors and emergency personnel. 
     The main problem with conventional address signs is that they are difficult to view during darkness. Another problem with conventional address signs is that they often times require a building owner to maintain outside lighting which can be costly and provide other undesirable effects for a building owner. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. Conventional address signs do not provide adequate identification of a building structure during periods of darkness. 
     In these respects, the illuminated identification system 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 providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of address signs now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new illuminated identification system construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new illuminated identification system that has many of the advantages of the address signs mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new illuminated identification system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art address signs, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a housing unit, one or more light bulbs positioned within the housing unit, an identifying plate containing an indicia, a transparent cover plate, and a photocell switch unit electrically connected to the light bulbs. The light bulbs illuminate the interior of the housing unit when the photocell switch unit detects reduced outdoor lighting. The indicia may be formed within the identifying plate by coloring or by cutting out one or more slots forming the indicia. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof 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 that 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 the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated identification system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     A second object is to provide an illuminated identification system for providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. 
     Another object is to provide an illuminated identification system that may be easily viewed from a significant distance in various lighting conditions. 
     An additional object is to provide an illuminated identification system that may be utilized upon new or existing building structures. 
     A further object is to provide an illuminated identification system that reduces the energy costs of providing a viewable address sign at nighttime. 
     Another object is to provide an illuminated identification system that is adjustable and modifiable. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the present invention with a plurality of housing units stacked together. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the present invention with a plurality of housing units stacked together. 
     FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the present invention electrically connected to a socket transformer. 
     FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view of the socket transformer. 
     FIG. 9 is a cutaway upper perspective view of the socket transformer. 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the electrical components of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 10 illustrate an illuminated identification system  10 , which comprises a housing unit  20 , one or more light bulbs  70  positioned within the housing unit  20 , an identifying plate  40  containing an indicia, a transparent cover plate  50 , and a photocell switch unit  60  electrically connected to the light bulbs  70 . The light bulbs  70  illuminate the interior of the housing unit  20  when the photocell switch unit  60  detects reduced outdoor lighting. The indicia may be formed within the identifying plate  40  by coloring or by cutting out one or more slots forming the indicia. 
     FIG. 1 illustrate the housing unit  20  having an interior cavity, a rear wall and a plurality of sidewalls extending orthogonally from the rear wall. It can be appreciated that the housing unit  20  may have various other shapes and sizes though not illustrated in the drawings. One or more housing units  20  may be connected to one another either vertically or horizontally to form the desired address information. 
     FIG. 1 further illustrates that the housing unit  20  includes a plurality of threaded apertures  22 , one or more rear light apertures  24 , and one or more rear mounting apertures  26 . The mounting apertures  26  receive one or more second fasteners  14  for securing to a wall, post, column or other structure. One or more first fasteners  12  are used to secure the identifying plate  40  and the cover plate  50  to the front opening of the housing unit  20  as best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  5  of the drawings, wires electrically connected to the light bulbs  70  extend through the rear light apertures  24 . The light bulbs  70  within the housing unit  20  are preferably positioned within front light apertures  32  of a reflective plate  30 . 
     The identifying plate  40  is comprised of transparent, semi-transparent or opaque material. The identifying plate  40  includes a plurality of first receiver apertures  42  that receive the first fasteners  12  as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The identifying plate  40  includes one or more indicia comprised of characters such as but not limited to letters and numbers. The indicia may be formed within the identifying plate  40  using coloring, paint, etching or by cutting out the indicia within the identifying plate  40 . 
     A cover plate  50  having a plurality of second receiver apertures  52  is preferably attached about the identifying plate  40 . The cover plate  50  is preferably transparent or semi-transparent, and may be tinted or colored. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the photocell switch unit  60  is electrically connected between the power source and the light bulbs  70  for applying or removing electrical power to the light bulbs  70 . The photocell switch unit  60  closes the electrical circuit when light conditions are reduced to a certain level. The photocell switch unit  60  opens the electrical circuit when light conditions are increased to a certain level thereby reducing electrical power consumption during daylight hours. When a plurality of housing units  20  are attached to one another using conventional fasteners or other fastening devices, the plurality of light bulbs  70  are connected in series or in parallel to one another with a common ground wire. 
     FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate a socket transformer  80  that is electrically connected to a conventional light socket  11 . The socket transformer  80  has a threaded end  82  that is threadably connectable to the light socket  11 . A transformer unit  84  within the socket transformer  80  either steps up or steps down the voltage received from the light socket  11 . The transformer unit  84  may also convert the AC voltage from the light socket to DC voltage. 
     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 to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and 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.