IP Library Granted Patent US 10,679,528
Granted Patent B2
US 10,679,528 · App. 15/043,554 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Hybrid illuminated indicator sign

Inventor: Kenneth Szekely (Mississauga, CA)
Assignee: ECOGLO HOLDINGS NA INC.
G09F13/20G02B6/006G02B6/0088G09F11/00G09F13/04G09F13/18G02B6/0055G02B6/0063G02B6/0076G09F2013/0459G09F2013/1881
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,679,528
App. No.
15/043,554
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid illuminated indicator sign for visually displaying indicators when the hybrid illuminated indicator sign is electrically powered and for at least a period of time when the hybrid illuminated indicator sign is no longer electrically powered comprises a light guide plate having a light receiving edge and a light emitting face, an intermediate translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the light emitting face of the light guide plate, an outer indicator layer at least partially covering the intermediate translucent photo-luminescent layer, and an electrically powered light source mounted adjacent the light receiving edge of the light guide plate.

Claims (42)

1. A hybrid illuminated indicator sign for visually displaying indicators when the hybrid illuminated indicator sign is electrically powered and for at least a period of time when the hybrid illuminated indicator sign is no longer electrically powered, the hybrid illuminated indicator sign comprising:

a light guide plate having a light receiving edge and a light emitting face;

a frame substantially surrounding the light guide plate;

a photo-luminescent member secured to the frame;

an outer indicator layer secured to the frame adjacent the light emitting face of the light guide plate; and

an electrically powered light source mounted within the frame adjacent the light receiving edge of the light guide plate;

wherein the light emitting face of the light guide plate comprises a first light emitting face and a second light emitting face facing opposite from the first light emitting face, and a reflective layer at least partially covering the second light emitting face, the reflective layer being opaque and having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the light guide plate;

wherein in a powered-on state, the electrically powered light source is configured to emit light which causes photo-excitation of the photo-luminescent member, the emitted light entering the light guide plate through the light receiving edge and re-directed through the light emitting face to the outer indicator layer, and partially through the outer indicator layer to be visible from the exterior of the hybrid illuminated indicator sign; and

wherein in a powered-off state, the electrically powered light source is configured to stop emitting light, and light from the photo-excited photo-luminescent member is transmitted partially through the outer indicator layer to be visible from the exterior of the hybrid illuminated indicator sign.

2. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , wherein the photo-luminescent member comprises a translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the light emitting face of the light guide plate and arranged between the light guide plate and the outer indicator layer.

3. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , wherein the photo-luminescent member is a photo-luminescent portion of the outer indicator layer.

4. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , wherein the outer indicator layer comprises a first outer indicator layer adjacent to the first light emitting face of the light guide plate and a second outer indicator layer adjacent to the second light emitting face of the light guide plate.

5. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 4 , wherein the photo-luminescent member comprises:

a first translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the first light emitting face of the light guide plate and arranged between the light guide plate and the first outer indicator layer; and

a second translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the second light emitting face of the light guide plate and arranged between the light guide plate and the second outer indicator layer.

6. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , wherein the light guide plate comprises:

a first light guide plate having a light emitting face; and

a second light guide plate having a light emitting face and adjacent to the first light guide plate;

wherein the light emitting face of the first light guide plate faces oppositely from the light emitting face of the second light guide plate.

7. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 6 , further comprising:

a reflective layer arranged between the first light guide plate and second light guide plate.

8. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 7 , wherein the outer indicator layer comprises a first outer indicator layer adjacent to the light emitting face of the first light guide plate and a second outer indicator layer adjacent to the light emitting face of the second light guide plate.

9. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 8 , wherein the photo-luminescent member comprises:

a first translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the light emitting face of the first light guide plate and arranged between the first light guide plate and the first outer indicator layer; and

a second translucent photo-luminescent layer at least partially covering the light emitting face of the second light guide plate and arranged between the second light guide plate and the second outer indicator layer.

10. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , further comprising an elongate light strip holder retained by the frame adjacent to the light receiving edge of the light guide plate.

11. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 10 , wherein the elongate light strip holder comprises a central vertical flange, a first outer vertical flange, a second outer vertical flange, and a horizontal web interconnecting the central vertical flange, the first outer vertical flange, and the second outer vertical flange.

12. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 11 , wherein the electrically powered light source is mounted within the elongate light strip holder.

13. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 12 , wherein the electrically powered light source is mounted underneath the horizontal web of the elongate light strip holder.

14. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting apparatus comprising:

a structure-engaging plate; and

a canopy securable to the structure-engaging plate.

15. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one canopy mounting post extending downwardly from the structure-engaging plate; and

for each canopy mounting post, a threaded fastener extending through a co-operating aperture in the canopy and threadibly engaging a co-operating canopy mounting post.

16. The hybrid illuminated indicator sign of claim 14 , further comprising:

at least one sign mounting post extending downwardly from the structure-engaging plate, and each sign mounting post having a head portion and a reduced neck portion;

wherein the frame has a key hole slot for each sign mounting post, and the reduced neck portion of the sign mounting post engages the key hole slot.

17. A hybrid illuminated indicator sign system comprising:

a plurality of hybrid illuminated indicator signs according to claim 1 ;

an electrical power controller circuit having a plurality of power outputs connected in power supplying relation to each of the plurality of hybrid illuminated indicator signs;

wherein said electrical power controller circuit is operable to provide electrical power from the plurality of power outputs to the plurality of hybrid illuminated indicator signs in a power cycle that comprises a plurality of power sub-cycles, in which in each of the plurality of power sub-cycles electrical power is provided to one of the hybrid illuminated indicator signs and the remaining hybrid illuminated indicator signs are not provided electrical power, and subsequent power sub-cycles provide electrical power to a different hybrid illuminated indicator sign.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2024
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 067281/0151 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
To: ECOGLO HOLDINGS NA INC.
Reel/Frame 046895/0715 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2018
From: BANK OF MONTREAL
To: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 046827/0954 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2018
From: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 046153/0466 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2018
From: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 046039/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: SZEKELY, KENNETH EUGENE, MR.
To: ASTRA CAPITAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 039818/0715 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,215,852