Patent Publication Number: US-2005132626-A1

Title: Multi-layered sign with enhanced reflecting layer

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a multi-layered sign. Specifically for the use of improving readability in low light condition  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are innumerable applications for simple signs. They may be attached to interior or exterior walls of homes or buildings, or suspended from overhead supports, or supported on purpose built structures. They may be used for example as: advertising, street signs, direction signs, or to identify a building or a room, or a service, such signs are made and used in great numbers because they are simple in construction and, therefore, generally inexpensive to make and maintain.  
      On the inside of buildings, simple signs are usually easy to read because they are illuminated or capable of being illuminated by unattached nearby light fixtures or lamps.  
      Often, simple signs on the outside of buildings are not illuminated and become difficult or impossible to read as it gets dark. In many cases, one would not know that a sign is present in a given location if it is not illuminated. Yet, if one could read the message on the sign, it would be of great assistance when looking for a street address, for example. Thus, there is a need for a comparatively simple, inexpensive sign that is not illuminated but which has enhanced ambient light collecting features thus improving readability as compared with most signs presently in use.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      To overcome some of the disadvantages referred to above, applicant has devised a sign that is not illuminated but which utilizes ambient light to provide a sign that is more readable in lower light conditions than the unlighted signs presently in use,  
      The sign of the present invention utilizes a stacked assembly consisting of: 
      1) a bottom layer having a shiny, reflecting surface which could be a mirror but which also could be a coated glass, metal or plastic sheet or coated film, all having a shiny, reflecting surface;     2) a layer of prismatic material, such as clear plastic with a regular or irregular pattern molded, cast or embossed or etched on its surface     3) a faceplate having a message which is transparent or cut out to expose the prismatic layer and an opaque background or vice versa, and     4)a protective layer of transparent material which could be a film, glass or clear plastic, such as Lexan, This layer is preferably manufactured or coated with an ultraviolet protective material and/or an abrasion-resistant material and/or a graffiti-resistant material or a combination of these protections.    

      A combination of the above layers in placement order other than described above can also produce enhanced readability of signs.  
      It has been found that a layer of prismatic acrylic material having a regular or irregular surface placed next to a highly reflecting surface is very effective to gather and reflect light. By placing a faceplate containing a desired message over the prismatic layer with the message either transparent with an opaque background or vice versa, any ambient light is enhanced and reflected back through the transparent layer while contrasting vividly with the opaque background or surrounding material.  
      The second layer described above is preferably of a clear acrylic having a regular or irregular surface which has numerous angles and elevations. One successful acrylic material has a totally random or irregular surface. The second layer above described may have one side coated to enhance its reflective qualities; this would obviate the need for the first lamination layer described above  
      The third layer preferably consists of a layer of plastic film that is secured to the smooth upper surface of the second layer. the third layer could also be of paper or other rigid or flexible sheet material having opaque portions and other portions which are transparent or cut out.  
      A sign formed of the above-described layers stacked as described remains legible even in very low light. Even after dark, the ambient light from various sources of artificial light around a populated area is sufficient to render the described sign readable.  
      The sign may be of any shape, regular or irregular on the periphery and can be concave or convex or in any moldable or formed shape on the sign face plane. Different color layers may be used to enhance the visual effect.  
      The plates to be laminated may be joined together using clear glue, plastic coatings, Radio Frequency Welding or using nuts, bolts or screws, The edges may be held together by inserting the plates into molded or extruded members made of plastic, metal or any other material that is moldable or can be extruded or formed to hold the plates together, with or without air gaps between the plates  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)  
      This invention may be more clearly understood with the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which the stacked plates are as follows:  
     
       FIG. 1 
     
       30  Mirror or Reflective Plate, used to reflect light entering through Protection Plate  40   
       32  Prismatic Plate used to enhance the light entering the sign  
       36  Legend Plate used to carry the message to be displayed by the sign  
       40  Protection Plate used to strengthen and keep sign readable.  
       FIG. 1   a  shows a side view of plates that may have a convex or concave surface.  
       FIG. 2 ,  
       31  Prismatic plate coated on smooth side to reflect light entering through Protective plate  40 .the prismatic side of this plate enhances the light traveling through the plate to the rear coating where it is reflected back through the sign.  
       36  Legend Plate used to carry the message to be displayed by the sign  
       40  Protection Plate used to strengthen and keep sign readable.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of stacked plates shown in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of stacked plates shown in  FIG. 2   
       FIG. 5  is an example of different shapes that may be used on the outside profile of the sign  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       FIG. 1 . Shows the top view of the stacked assembly, plate marked  30  is the rear protective plate that is shiny on the side adjacent to the prismatic plate  32 , the prismatic surface  34  of this plate is stacked adjacent to the legend plate marked  36 , the plate marked  36  carries the message of the sign, the final layer  40  is the plate to protect the exposed area of the sign, this plate would be used to increase the rigidity of the sign in the case of plates, 30  , 32 ,  36  or a combination of these plates being film or non-rigid material. The faces of the laminated plates in  FIG. 1  may be concave, convex or any shape capable of transmitting light, The outside edges may be of any shape to form a graphic design or logo.  
       FIG. 2  shows the top view of an alternative stacked assembly of a three plate sign. The plate marked  31  is a prismatic plate with a coated finish on the flat side, this plate is stacked prismatic side to the legend plate  36  which is stacked next to the protection plate marked  40  in  FIG. 2 . The faces of the laminated plates in  FIG. 2  may be concave, convex or any shape capable of transmitting light, The outside edges may be of any shape to form a graphic, design or logo.  FIG. 3  it will be seen that four layers are shown in an exploded, perspective view. The bottom layer  30  is a plate which could be a mirror but preferably is a polished or electro plated sheet of material, such as aluminum or stainless steel, or plastic which has a high degree of reflectivity. The second layer  32  is a prismatic material, such as a sheet of clear prismatic plastic material having an irregular or regular surface providing a very large number of surfaces of many angles. One such material is a sheet of acrylic material having a surface identified as “Cracked Ice Clear” from Plaskolite, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio. A small section  34  of material having a similar regular or irregular surface is shown on layer  32 . The regular or irregular surface  34  is preferably placed adjacent the reflecting surface  31  of bottom layer  30 .  
      The third layer, which is a faceplate layer  36 , is preferably a film secured to the top, smooth surface of layer  32  having transparent portions for the message numerals and otherwise being opaque. Alternatively, the alpha-numeric and/or graphic message can be opaque with the surrounding background areas being transparent. In either case, the message will stand out prominently if there is a significant amount of ambient light.  
      The fourth or top plate  40  is a protective layer of clear material, such as glass or Lexan. To further protect the sign, top plate  40  may be manufactured to include or have an exterior coating of ultraviolet, resistant graffiti release and/or abrasion-resistant material.  FIG. 1   a ) is a side view of the assembled sign of  FIG. 1  The clear acrylic layer  32  has an irregular surface shown at numeral  34  and is adjacent to the bottom layer  30  which has a highly polished or shiny surface  31 . The third layer  36  may be of a plastic film that is preferably secured to the smooth top surface of top plate  40 .  
      An advantage of the particular arrangement described above is that the space between the regular or irregular surface of the clear acrylic layer or sheet and the film layer  36  represented by the thickness of layer  32  produces a three dimensional visual effect which enhances the display.  
      The above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope of any claims in a corresponding non-provisional application, including their equivalents.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the faces as described in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5  is the front and side view of a sign cut to a shape, this shape may be of any contour and the plates although shown as a four plate sign may be of a three plate design as shown generally in  FIG. 2 .